§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what funding bodies have responsibility for allocating funds to groups and organisations dealing with ex-prisoner issues; how much each such body has allocated to ex-prisoner groups in the current year; and which ex-prisoner groups have benefited. [106240]
§ Mr. Paul MurphyI am sorry for the delay in replying, the information requested required considerable cross-departmental co-ordination.
The Northern Ireland Office does not allocate any funds directly to ex-prisoner groups. The Department does however provide core funding to two grant-aided non-statutory organisations, NIACRO and EXTERN, 80W who provide accommodation services and links to employability. These services can be made available to ex-offenders in the community.
Within the Northern Ireland Administration groups and organisations dealing with ex-prisoners may apply for funding from any programme or scheme for which they satisfy the eligibility criteria. In the year 2002–03, a total of —3,767,906 was allocated from a variety of sources. Details are given in the tables.
Funding to ex-prisoner groups — Funding body Total figure Community Relations Council 510 Community Foundation (NI) 2,092,256 Department for Employment and Learning 564,842 Department of Education 4,800 YESIP (YouthNet) 15,661 Omagh Local Strategy Partnership 34,000 Strabane Local Strategy Partnership 63,750 Cooperation Ireland 92,149 Area Development Management/Combat Poverty Agency 755,541 BRO North Team 88,240 BRO Inner West Team/Outer West Team (Joint Funded) 56,157
align="center">Organisations receiving funding Coiste na N-Iarchimi Tar Isteach Lisburn Prisoners' Support Project Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders (NIACRO) Gae Lairn Ltd Tar Anall Arais Aris ar an Omaigh Cairde larchime Fear Manach La Nua Failte Chlain Eois Cumann na Meirleach Teach na Failte EPIC (Ex-Prisoners Interpretative Centre) An Eochair Ex-Prisoner Support New Lodge Forum Tar Abhaile Cumann na Meirleach Ard Mhaca Theas EPIC Northwest Amach Agus Insteach Cairde Strabane Ex-Prisoners Group Upp Springfield Devel Trust Goitse Prisoners Enterprise Project Iarchimi Fhearmanach North Belfast Prisoners Aid Tra Chearr