First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have been called on to review the decision to refuse Derry-based Foyle Search and Rescue vital funding.
First Minister Peter Robinson (right) and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.
The charity had applied for £200,000 from the Social Investment Fund run within the office of the OFMDFM.
The cash was to go towards extending its headquarters at Prehen and to set up a counselling centre.
Last year, Foyle Search and Rescue attended a total of 195 incidents in the River Foyle, which included the rescue of 12 people and 66 “causes for concern” being led to places of safety for help.
FSR also had the sad task of recovering seven bodies from the river.
Other incidents included assisting broken down boats and jet skis.
The figures, according to Emmett Doyle, SDLP candidate in the upcoming local government election, are proof of the vital service offered by Foyle Search and Rescue.
Mr Doyle has written to Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness to review the refusal by their department’s Social Investment team to refuse the funding to FSR.
Mr Doyle revealed the move was a result of being informed by the Social Investment team that appeal mechanism in place to reverse the decision.
In his letter, Mr Doyle says: “On behalf of the people of Derry I am urging you to intervene and allocate funding to Foyle Search and Rescue via the Social Investment Fund.
“The spirit of the fund is to bring about social change – we can all testify that this organisation, staffed by volunteers, does that on a daily basis, and for that we as a community are immensely proud and grateful.
“I would hope that your office make the right decision and deliver this change for the people of our city who rely on Foyle Search and Rescue as our fourth emergency service.”
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