§ Mr. Jim MarshallTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on(a) the likely uses of the increased funding for ACE schemes in Northern Ireland and (b) the use of ACE projects in activities relating to the community care initiative.
§ Mr. ViggersThe ACE programme will increase from the current average level of 6,200 to 8,000 places during 1988–89. In allocating the additional places, priority will be given to projects which have the potential to create self-sustaining jobs, to those which further the development of community health and social care and to environmental measures. Special attention will also be given to projects in areas where the level of ACE provision is lower than the local incidence of long-term adult unemployment would warrant. Four hundred of the additional places have been specifically allocated to support the Northern Ireland 2000 programme, which seeks to provide more and higher quality environmental projects.
Sympathetic consideration is always given to proposals from sponsors seeking places for community care activities. Approximately 30 per cent. of ACE scheme places currently support such activities.