New Deal Environmental Task Force (Hansard, 26 February 1998)

§ Mr. Worthington

Responsibility for the subject in question has been delegated to the Training and Employment Agency under its Chief Executive, Mr. Ian Walters. I have asked him to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Ian Walters to Mr. Robert McCartney, dated 26 February 1998: The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has asked me as Chief Executive of the Training and Employment Agency to reply to your question about New Deal funding for the Environment Task Force option. The maximum funding per participant on the Environmental Task Force within New Deal in Northern Ireland is £1,300 which equates to a maximum weekly fee of £50 for a 26 week placement. In addition, £750 per participant is paid as a training fee. When determining the level of management fee applicable in Northern Ireland the Training and Employment Agency took into account its current experience of funding similar activity under Action for Community Employment (ACE) and the pilot Community Work Programme (CWP) and the existence of an infrastructure of voluntary/environmental groups already delivering Government funded programmes. The level of fee represents a significant enhancements on those paid within ACE and CWP. For comparison purposes the maximum funding in respect of 10 participants over a 26 week period is £8,320 (CWP), £10,218 (ACE) and £20,500 (New Deal Environmental Task Force). I am satisfied therefore that the New Deal will make available additional resources to providers of the Environmental Task Force option to enable them to deliver good quality opportunities for our young people while ensuring that the Agency lives within its overall New Deal funding allocation and seeks best value for money for the taxpayer. I hope you find this reply helpful.