First Minister Michelle O'Neill calls for transparency with NI Football Fund process
FIRST Minister Michelle O'Neill insists the 20 club list of NI Football Fund beneficiaries must be fully scrutinised following the stark omission of clubs from the North West region.
North West clubs Derry City, Institute and Coleraine have come out empty-handed in their bid for a share of the £82 million funding which has been increased from the £36.2m promised to clubs almost 15 years ago.
The list of 20 successful clubs was unveiled by Communities Minister Gordon Lyons in Belfast this morning and was met by shock and disappointment in the North West. All three clubs applied for tier 3 of the three-tiered funding which was in excess of £6million for their respective infrastructure projects but their applications were rejected. Speaking during a visit to Seagate's Derry facility where she announced a £115 million investment, O'Neill said the process of selection should be 'fully transparent and open'. "There will be huge disappointment there and understandably so," said the First Minister.
"So I need to look at the detail of what's been proposed but what's fundamentally important to me is whenever we look at the list of all the clubs that have been successful and fair play to them - I want all our sports clubs to be invested in.
"But we need to look very carefully at the list of all those that have been identified that will be successful in receiving funding, that it’s fully transparent and open and we can see the rationale for why these clubs have been chosen. "I think sport is never something that should divide us. Sport is something that should unite us. "To all the clubs out there that are disappointed today we will fully look at this list in terms of who's been successful and who hasn't and my determination is to try and work with all Executive colleagues to ensure we can get more money into sport."
Sinn Féin MLA Colm Gildernew echoed calls for further scrutiny in the points matrix selection process.
“Many clubs who have been included in the announcement will rightly be overjoyed, and I want to congratulate them," said Mr Gildernew.
“However, there will be clubs, like Derry City and Coleraine FC, who are deeply frustrated and angered by today’s announcement.
“The announcement by the Communities Minister must be fully scrutinised to ensure equality, transparency and accountability underpin all decisions.
“Sinn Féin wants to see investment across all sports and communities, including support for the GAA to redevelop Casement Park, which is long overdue."
Paying tribute to all 38 clubs who applied to the Fund, the Sports Minister said it wasn't the end of the road for those clubs who didn't get through to the next phase of the process: “I know that some will be disappointed today. But this is not the end of the journey. “I give my commitment today to stay with you and continue to seek further funding to meet the evidence need,” he added.