More than £500,000 in funding for festivals around Belfast is expected to be approved later this week.
The money, aimed at ‘diversionary’ activities to reduce trouble associated with bonfires, is to be discussed at a Belfast City Council committee on Friday where it is expected to be rubber-stamped.
A number of events, across the city, are understood to have been approved for funding. It is believed Féile and the Twaddell Woodvale Residents Association are among groups expected to get funding.
The funding will be discussed at the Strategic Policy and Resources Committee with a final approval expected to occur at the next full Council meeting on April 29.
Belfast City Council allocates £500,000 for area festivals to reduce bonfire tensions
Separate events are being planned for North, West, South and East Belfast. Sources familiar with the funding, say it is aimed at paying for events around July 11 ‘Eleventh’ bonfires and ‘Internment’ bonfires on August 8.
The funding is expected to cause a political spat between parties, following a similar fallout over the allocation of money last year.
In 2018 there were accusations of a “carve up” between the the DUP and Sinn Fein when around £400,000 was allocated to festivals.
Events that got money then included £100,000 for Twaddell Woodvale Residents Association to run a concert on July 11, while Féile an Phobail received £100,000.
Funding of £80,000 also went to the Ulster-Scots Community Network to run a three-year planning process for a new festival.
It is understood some councillors are unhappy at the allocation of the funding, however Sinn Fein and DUP sources insist the money has been allocated fairly.
One source said there was an “open public process” and a “geographical spread” of funding. A DUP and PUP councillor were involved in “engaging” with communities in parts of the city to establish how best to spend the money, a source added.
Another source said a public application process was used to allocate the funding with a point scoring system.
However, a further source in the Council characterised this allocation of £500,00 as another “carve up” for “mates” of the two big parties.
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