SDLP Group Leader Councillor Brian Tierney
He was speaking after Derry City and Strabane District Council backed his motion to write to the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to express their grave concern at the move.
Said Cllr Tierney: “The decision by the British government to deny funding to the whole of the North from the latest round of Levelling Up funding is a cruel blow to community groups who this money could have made a real difference to.
“The community sector in Derry and the North West as a whole has been badly impacted by the loss of EU funding, many organisations were pushed to the brink, with staff’s jobs left hanging in the balance.
“I spoke to a number of groups across our city and district who applied for the last round of funding and were ultimately unsuccessful.
“It’s clear that the Levelling Up fund is in no-way replacing the lost European money and that is putting huge pressure on groups in this area who provide vital services around things like addiction, mental health and isolation and local sports clubs and other organisations in need of much improved facilities.
“It will not be lost to people in this city that the blame for this lies with the British government and the DUP whose boycott of Stormont has allowed them to get away with this.
“Far too often we have been at the bottom of the pile when it comes to much needed investment and I doubt any Tory minister will lose a night’s sleep over this decision and the DUP have shown through their inaction that they don’t care.
“I welcome council’s backing of our motion and it’s important that we speak on behalf of the people in this area and the groups who are rightly outraged at the denial of this funding.
“The SDLP will keep pushing the government at Westminster and working for the immediate return of Stormont so we can get this money to those who need it most.”
