§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) whether he will provide funds for the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, on the same basis as funding provided in England and Wales; and if he will make a statement;
(2) whether he will grant funding from the Department of Economic Development and the Department of Health and Social Services to augment grants from the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) to the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux; and if he will make a statement.
§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 11 December 1987]: The funding of the Northern Ireland Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux follows the pattern of England and Wales in that the association receives 100 per cent. grant for approved expenditure from the Department of Education for Northern Ireland. This Department, acting on behalf of the Government, also provides resources to district councils who fund local citizens advice bureaux. This arrangement allows locally elected representatives to determine and respond to local needs.
Indirect assistance is also provided to individual bureaux in the form of action for community employment (ACE) posts. These are funded by the Department of Economic Development.