Greater accountability is necessary to ensure that the next £1 billion programme of European Union cash aid for Northern Ireland is spent wisely and effectively, says the North's umbrella body for voluntary groups.
NICVA, the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action, held a day-long conference of voluntary bodies in Belfast yesterday to help devise proposals on how future EU funding should best be allocated.
Over the period 1994-1999 Northern Ireland will receive about £1 billion in structural funds. While the North may lose its Objective 1 status in the next seven-year EU funding period, it should still receive about £1 billion or possibly more, NICVA believes.
"We want proper accountability for the spending of this money," said Ms Frances McCandless, communications officer of NICVA. "We don't want it to disappear into another government black hole, never to be seen again."
She contended that previous structural funding was chiefly administered by Northern Ireland Office departments, and was focused predominantly on economic development and high-cost physical infrastructure.
Ms McCandless demanded that more spending be directly assisting the socially disadvantaged.
The EU structural fund programme does not include the £340 million EU peace and reconciliation aid which the North received or will receive in the 1994-1999 period.
