Down charity forces an inquiry into payments

Down charity forces an inquiry into payments

29 May 2013

AN inquiry is to take place into the length of time it is taking a government department to make payments to a Downpatrick-based charity.

The Stormont committee of MLAs, which oversees the work of the Department of Regional Development, is to investigate why it has been taking so long to make payments to Down Community Transport (DCT).

The charity has had to pay excessive bank charges while it waits for DRD officials to process payments.

Last week members of the DRD committee met with officials from the charity and local politicians. The meeting was arranged by Strangford MP Jim Shannon after the transport charity expressed concern that its government funding is not being paid on time.

Mr. Shannon and charity officials outlined to DRD Committee chairman Jimmy Spratt and Alex Easton MLA that the local charity provides a key service for the elderly and the disabled and is one of the largest of its kind in the Province.

However, the processing of late DRD payments has forced Down Community Transport to halt some of the services it provides and resulted in the charity paying excessive bank charges to cover setting up overdraft facilities until the government funding is paid.

Mr. Shannon was joined at the recent meeting by Down Community Transport chairman Francie Casement, organisation treasurer Russell Hanna and local councillors Garth Craig, Billy Walker and Terry Andrews.

The MP said the transport charity has had to pay bank fees of up to £5,000 because the DRD’s monthly funding was not lodged in its account on time.

“These bank charges are unnecessary and would not have been levied if the government funding had been paid on time,” said Mr. Shannon.

“Mr. Spratt informed us that the DRD Committee will be looking at better co-ordination between all government departments and ensuring payments they make are paid on time.”

Mr. Casement said he welcomed the opportunity to put the transport charity’s concerns directly to the DRD Committee. He said the charity has become “increasingly frustrated” at the delay in processing payments.

Councillor Billy Walker has praised the key role Down Community Transport plays in the lives of people in the Killyleagh, Derryboye and Raffrey areas.

He said the charity provides a key service for many vulnerable people and hopes the recent meeting with DRD Committee representatives will ensure the organisation receives its funding on time.