Call for inquiry into the running of NI's Social Investment Fund

By Rebecca Black

There has been a call for an independent inquiry into the running of a fund for disadvantaged areas in Northern Ireland.

The demand came after Auditor General Kieran Donnelly expressed concern over the governance of the Social Investment Fund (SIF).

He was speaking as an Audit Office report found that the Executive Office does not hold a clear audit trail in relation to the awarding of public money from the fund, and identified a number of concerns in the initial stages of the scheme including conflicts of interests which it found were not always appropriately dealt with.

Alliance MLA Chris Lyttle called for a public inquiry into the fund.

Mr Lyttle, who referred the SIF to the Audit Office, said public concern had been borne out by its report.

"The management structure, in addition to the lack of minutes and accountability around the entire scheme, are just some of the many reasons Alliance brought an Assembly motion expressing deep concern around the formation, implementation and operation of SIF, while calling for an independent review of the entire process. However, it was defeated by a combination of DUP and Sinn Fein votes," he said.

"These fundamental issues are why there should be an independent inquiry commissioned into SIF and its operation immediately, so the lessons which this report outlines can be learned and we can ensure there is no repeat of the vast sums of public money being spent without proper accountability."

Ulster Unionist MLA Mike Nesbitt described the report as "damning".

"It should be breathtaking to read the Executive Office does not hold a clear audit trail regarding how the money was awarded, but sadly it is simply not surprising to anyone who tried to warn the project was flawed from the beginning," he said.

SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon said: "This report highlights failings on behalf of Executive Office departmental officials, who are ultimately accountable for public spending.

"Serious questions must be answered by them.

"External experts must now be brought in to oversee implementation of the Audit Office recommendations and to ensure nothing like this is allowed to happen again.

"The urgency of this is even more important given civil servants are being handed more power in the absence of an Executive by the Secretary of State."

TUV leader Jim Allister said: "I have no doubt that there have been worthy projects funded through the SIF but it is clear that the people of Northern Ireland should be angry that their money was squandered in this fashion on a fund which was flawed from the outset and which many people warned about.

"This is yet another scandal made in Stormont and once again the taxpayer has been left with the hefty price tag."

A spokesman for the Executive Office said: "The Executive Office recognises that there were shortcomings in the early stages of SIF and welcomes the acknowledgement by NIAO that once projects became established, governance improved.

"The report also identifies completed projects where outcomes to date are promising and value for money is likely to be achieved.

"SIF is a fund of £80 million which will deliver 68 projects up to 2020. To date, SIF revenue projects have improved the lives of almost 24,000 participants through employment, early intervention and education initiatives."