HC Deb 06 November 1987 vol 121 cc931-2W
Mr. Jim Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many posts were funded through the ACE scheme in the years 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1985–86. 1986–87, and 1987–88, respectively; and which organisations are presently in receipt of ACE funding.

Mr. Viggers

The number of posts provided since 1981–82 is as follows:

Year Average number of posts
1981–82 430
1982–83 1,270
1983–84 2,529
1984–85 3,080
1985–86 3,890
1986–87 6,150
1987–88 16,200
1 Projected.

At 25 September there were 377 ACE projects. A list of all the organisations sponsoring these projects is available in the Library.

Mr. Jim Marshall

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which organisations in which geographical locations, have been informed of the withdrawal of ACE funding or of a decision not to renew ACE funding in the years 1985–86, 1986–87 and 1987–88.

Mr. Viggers

In the years 1985–86, 1986–87, and 1987–88 (as at 25 September 1987) funding was withdrawn or not renewed in respect of a total of 401 ACE projects. The following table gives information on a geographical basis.

Travel-to-work area 1985–86 1986–87 1987–88
Antrim 1 9 2
Armagh — 1 6
Ballymena — 9 3
Ballymoney 1 5 4
Ballynahiach — 3 3
Banbridge — 3 4
Bangor — 3 4
Belfast 9 49 48
Carrickfergus 1 4 2
Coleraine — 2 3
Cookstown — 1 1
Craigavon — 8 9
Downpatrick — 6 10
Dungannon 1 2 3
Fermanagh 5 20 12
Larne — 2 1
Limavady 2 3 3
Lisburn — 8 4
Londonderry 5 19 13
Magherafelt — 4 3
Newcastle — — 3
Newry — 7 11
Newtownabbey — 8 5
Newtownards — 3 2
Omagh 4 11 6
Strabane 6 9 2
Totals 35 199 167

A full list of the projects and the sponsors concerned has been placed in the Library. It should be noted that in the majority of these cases ACE funding was not renewed because the projects concerned did not meet the priority criteria for retention in the ACE programme which are:

  1. (i) location in a geographical area where ACE provision is under-target
  2. (ii) projects having the capacity to improve the economy in some way, for example, creation of permanent jobs or self employment
  3. (iii) projects which provide services for disadvantaged groups
  4. (iv) projects which provide opportunities mainly for the "unskilled" and "low achievers" within the long term unemployed grouping.