Debate contribution: Local Growth Fund

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 21 October 2025.

MLA

Ms Sinéad McLaughlin

Party at the time

Social Democratic and Labour Party

Date

21 October 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Local Growth Fund

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5197380

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome the motion on the future of funding to replace the European programmes that sustained so much good work in our communities for decades, and I acknowledge and welcome the presence in the Public Gallery of Celine McStravick and others from the community and voluntary sector. I have said before that I was proud to be at the heart of the Remain campaign in Northern Ireland, and, while people here voted to remain, we were dragged out of Europe against our will. I do not want to dance around all that again, but it has to be said. The value of that membership, particularly in the European regional development fund and the European social fund, continues to be seen across our region every day. We can see the legacy of the regional development fund in infrastructure in our towns and cities, the growth of our local businesses and social housing delivery. Those projects remind us of the tangible benefits of EU membership and what it brought to each of our communities.

The European social fund's impact was quieter, but vital. It helped people rebuild confidence, gain skills and move much closer to work. It underpinned much of our community and voluntary sector, and it transformed lives. The community and voluntary sector is one of Northern Ireland's greatest strengths. It employs over 53,000 people across 7,400 registered charities, and 73% of those working in the sector are women — many in part-time roles. Those organisations hold communities together, often on insecure funding, yet with unshakeable dedication. At a time of enormous pressure in our health service, they are essential in supporting older people, families and those facing poor mental health, addiction and isolation. We all know the pressures that our health service is under. If we did not have the community and voluntary sector, it would be on life support. We are not far from that, but it would be, because the sector is providing core functions in our communities. It is often the only support when statutory services cannot cope. In Derry, the loss of the European social fund saw such support organisations as Women's Centre Derry and Derry Youth and Community Workshop lose staff, skills and capacity, along with vital services. It was not only Westminster that pulled the plug. European funding relied on partnership, with local Departments providing match funding. Since 2016-17, the Executive contributed tens of millions in statutory match funding. When European funding disappeared, so did the match funding from our Departments, with real consequences for organisations and the people whom they serve. Virtually the same motion was debated here almost a year ago and was passed, yet the sector still lacks clarity about the future of funding. The Department of Finance is the lead Department for developing the fund for Northern Ireland. It committed to engaging with the sector, including through the hosting of an event, on 18 June, and agreed to produce a report outlining the Executive's position, yet that report still has not been made available. That adds to the uncertainty that is faced by the community organisations. I would like to hear about that from the Minister in his response. The NI Can't Wait campaign warns that almost 24,000 people could lose vital support unless urgent action is taken. Those are people with disabilities, lone parents, carers and people with health conditions. They rely on community organisations to move closer to employment. The British Government say that the local growth fund will replace the Shared Prosperity Fund in 2026, but serious concerns remain about its design and accessibility. It cannot become another overly centralised fund that is out of reach for community organisations. NICVA's message is clear: groups across Northern Ireland need leadership, and they need it now. The SDLP believes that the Executive must take action and must take matters into their own hands. We cannot continue to go to Westminster with a begging bowl, come away with nothing and have no solutions closer to home. We need leadership at home that explores such funding as social finance, which allows organisations to leverage private capital for social and environmental good. Departments must also provide stability for our organisations to deliver essential services. The community and voluntary sector has carried this region through some of its darkest days — through conflict, austerity and political collapse. It deserves certainty, sustainability and respect, and as NICVA rightly says —

— Northern Ireland cannot wait.

741 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 13:32 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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