Teamwork scheme funding
De Rossa said applications had been refused because Teamwork funds ran out and asked about extra funding and reapplication. Birmingham said demand exceeded the original £6 million allocation and that he had secured additional funds; he began explaining how applications were assessed when funds were short.
The Minister has indicated that about £2.1 million has been spent under the Teamwork schemes but is he aware that a number of applications, in my area particularly, have not been successful on the basis that funds have run out? If this is the case, is it the intention to provide additional funds for the remainder of this year? Also, would the Minister consider it right that organisations who have applied must reapply next year simply because the Minister says there are no further funds available?
Comment on this
Regarding Teamwork, a sum of £6 million was allocated in the original Estimate but the response exceeded expectations by far. Consequently, in the summer months organisations were applying but funds were not available to meet those applications. In those circumstances I sought the agreement of the Government to have extra funds made available and I was successful in that regard. At a time when funds were short it appeared to be appropriate to examine each of the organisations' applications for the purpose of ascertaining whether they would readily qualify under any of the other schemes and in particular to ascertain whether some of them should more properly have made application under the social employment scheme. The point is that funds in addition to the £6 million have been made available, but if the Deputy has any case in mind in particular I should be happy to talk with him about it.