DUP demands review of scoring system as GAA clubs scoop 50% of grants

THE DUP has demanded an independent review of an application process that saw GAA clubs win around half the cash from a new council grant scheme.
In response, the Sinn Féin chair of the committee that oversees the fund accused them of “casting aspersions” on the integrity of council officers.
The £600,000 Capital Grants Programme was established last year to help sports and community organisations develop facilities.
It was launched after members of the Leisure and Development Committee agreed no single sporting code could have access to more than 20% of the overall pot in any given year.
On Tuesday the committee learned that 21 applications had been assessed and scored.
Among the seven applicants that achieved the threshold score were John Mitchels GAC Glenullin, Limavady Wolfhounds GAC and McQuillan GAC Ballycastle.
The sporting codes for each applicant were listed as ‘Ladies Gaelic Football’, ‘Gaelic Football’ and ‘Camogie’.

‘DISPARITY’
It was the DUP’s Mervyn Storey who raised concerns over what he described as the “disparity” in the scores assigned to applicants.
“I and my colleagues want assurance that the matrix that was used to score the 14 that didn’t reach the 65 (percent threshold) and the seven who were successful, can stand independent assessment.”
Cllr Storey’s DUP colleague Darryl Wilson acknowledged the criteria and scoring matrix had been agreed by fellow councillors.
He also accepted there was an “even spread” of success and failure. “And I think everyone knows what I mean by that,” he added.
But he went on to raise questions over assistance given to applicants ahead of their formal submissions. “Is it discoverable,” he asked.
“We want to make sure these processes are robust and there is no room for challenge. For anyone to say they are not transparent or even or equal.”

Full story in this week's Northern Constitution.