To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning to comment on the availability of public sector match funding for European Social Fund training projects.

The Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2007-13 provides projects with 65% programme funding, made up of 40% from European Union Funds and a 25% contribution from the Department for Employment and Learning. The remaining 35% ‘match funding’ must be secured independently from other public sources by the project promoters. This is the same procedure as used for previous European Social Fund Programmes. Of the 76 projects selected for funding, to date 63 have secured their match funding for this year.