HUNDREDS of construction-related firms in the north have been told they're excluded from a £1.2 million grant scheme to get builders working again - all because of archaic legislation dating back more than half a century.
The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) launched an innovative apprenticeship scheme offering lucrative grants to registered employers to support a range of training and qualifications for their employees.
But the criteria governing the scheme was originally written in 1964 and subsequently reviewed in 1984.
So if you want to built a nuclear power station or aqueduct or an inland canal in Northern Ireland, you can apply for cash.
But it doesn't include relatively "new" sectors within construction such as solar panel installation, wind turbine construction and even double glazing fitting.
And because there is no Executive sitting at Stormont to change the legislation, companies in those three industries frustratingly can't avail of the grants.
One local businessman who operates a double glazing firm told the Irish News he intended to take on as many as three apprentices - but now has scrapped his growth plans after being informed he did not qualify for assistance.
Yesterday CITB NI, an arm’s length body of the Northern Ireland Assembly, admitted its hands were effectively tied, and that it can only support business sectors which are included within the existing 1964 legislation.
"It is true that we cannot support companies, either through the apprenticeship grant or any other grant categories, if they are not in scope as defined within our legislation," the training body confirmed.
CITB NI chief executive Barry Neilson said the current legislation governing the grant scheme was "currently under review" but discussions over changes had been negatively impacted by the Stormont impasse.
"Our legislation was initially written in 1964, reviewed in 1984, and has undergone minor revisions over the subsequent years," he said.
"CITB NI has been discussing changes to this legislation to cater for our current industry activities, which have changed in nature and practice over the years.
"The discussions have been ongoing over a number of years, but will require a ministerial decision to instigate the review and subsequent lengthy consultation with industry and stakeholders before firm proposals could be made to the legislative process," he said.
He said the debate around the current legislation had been ongoing for some years, but have been delayed by the lack of a Stormont budget.
"CITB wants to see Stormont up and running again for the benefit of all citizens of Northern Ireland and believe it would also allow further progress to be made on the changes to this order to allow other newer industries to potentially benefit from and grant schemes," Mr Neilson added.
