Red tape and bureaucracy on agenda in Assembly

Minister for Social Development, Nelson McCausland, referred to work to cut bureaucracy and red tape in government funding during a report on his involvement in the British Irish Council meeting on social inclusion.

Minister McCausland explained how the meeting discussed the ‘key role of the third sector in delivering flexible and inclusive services in communities. They also acknowledged the work that is being done actively to engage the third sector from an early stage in policy discussions and development in each jurisdiction.’

In response to questions from MLAs, the Minister went on to acknowledge that work to reduce bureaucracy and red tape in government's funding relationship with voluntary and community organisations remains a priority for his department.

Minister McCausland said:

Our engagement with the third sector is shaped by and based on the concordat between government and the voluntary sector. One of the things being taken forward at the moment is that, in regard to the general work of the voluntary sector, through collaboration with NICVA, we are working to see what can be done to streamline and simplify the requirements that are placed on voluntary sector organisations in securing funding, etc and in reporting on that.

"There is recognition of the need to do that. In fact, when I first took over in the Department that was one of the things that was raised at the very first meeting that I had with NICVA and representatives of a wide range of voluntary organisations. At a meeting with NICVA, we talked about the challenges to the sector, and that was one of the things that was flagged up.”

Following the work carried out by the Public Accounts Committee a high level working group on audit and bureaucracy has been established. The first meeting of the working group was held in late February.  As requested by NICVA, membership of the group consists of the key people necessary to achieve actual change on this issue. Members include the DSD Permanent Secretary, DFP Permanent Secretary and the Comptroller and Auditor General. The first meeting agreed to act on the main recommendations of the PAC and Northern Ireland Audit Office report and will now seek representation from other departments including DHSS&PS. The SEUPB will also have a key role to play in this work.

NICVA Chief Executive, Seamus McAleavey, sits on the working group and said: 

Everyone involved in funding administration recognises and agrees the problems when it comes to unnecessary and disproportionate red tape.  However, despite numerous past attempts, progress on this issue seemed to get stuck in the very same red tape and inflexibility. Minister McCausland is right when he says that this was one of the first issues we raised with him when he took office and he agreed to explore what could be done. The work of the Public Accounts Committee added extra impetus. The establishment and first meeting of the high level working group is a welcome development. The next meeting of the group will get down to the real business of scoping what can be done and when. I will ensure that NICVA members and the wider voluntary and community sector are fully informed of the work of the group as it progresses.”

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