Bickering between unionists and republicans over the amount of public money being spent in their respective communities escalated today when Sinn Féin accused the DUP of distorting figures through "sectarian analysis".
Sinn Fein MP Ms Michelle Gildernew criticised the DUP's Mr Gregory Campbell over his claim that nationalist communities were benefitting disproportionately from public spending.
Mr Campbell told a public meeting in west Belfast - which included former Lord mayor, Sinn Fein's Mr Alex Maskey - that official figures from the Government showed 44 per cent of EU aid had gone to projects in unionist areas, compared to 56 per cent for nationalist localities.
The former Stormont regional development minister also quoted answers to parliamentary questions, indicating more than stg£39 million had been spent on the Irish language compared to less than £900,000 on Ulster Scots.
He also claimed that £9 million in public funds had been spent on Gaelic Games, equalling the total for soccer, rugby and cricket in Northern Ireland over the same five-year period.
But Ms Gildernew today accused the East Derry MP of "playing a dangerous game" by "feeding into a sectarian analysis of need".
"The reality is that the Irish language is more widely used than Ulster Scots with 10 per cent of the population having knowledge of Irish.
"In sport, in terms of both participation and support, Gaelic games have a substantial and growing popularity," Ms Gildernew said, adding that Mr Campbell had quoted selectively from a recent report on European funding.
The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said: "Fifty-six per cent of its three-year budget went to nationalist areas precisely because there is a greater objective need, largely as a result of discrimination.
"Gregory also fails to mention the fact that Catholics are still more likely to be unemployed and suffer greater deprivation."
Ms Gildernew added: "It is time for the DUP to recognise that there must be economic development and investment in areas of greatest need allowing communities, whether nationalist or unionist, to receive help commensurate with the level of need they experience."
PA
