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23/03/2011
'Anti-Poverty' Funding Announced
The Executive has announced the establishment of an £80million Social Investment Fund aimed at reducing poverty and unemployment.
The Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) say the fund will be an integrated approach to enhance economic growth, employability and the sustainability of communities.
It will involve setting up economic enterprise zones in deprived areas across Northern Ireland.
First Minister Peter Robinson commented: "Despite the significant progress made in the last number of years towards prosperity, stability and peace there remains sections of the community that have not fully benefited from these changes. Given the current economic and fiscal situation there is a real risk that deprivation will continue, and may increase unless interventions are put in place.”
He continued: "Tackling these issues will require interventions of significant scale to be delivered in partnership with communities on a cross departmental basis. The fund will reduce poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration.
"The fund also recognises that deprivation occurs across a number of areas. We have therefore identified eight possible Investment zones upon which we will seek to consult widely."
Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said that the most immediate and effective way out of deprivation is through quality employment.
He added: "However there are substantial structural, historic, geographical and social barriers to employment and full participation in the economy for deprived communities.
It is recognised that to have a long term impact on issues of economic and social disadvantage government responses need to break from a silo approach, where responses operate independently of each other and replace this with an interdisciplinary approach coordinated across all government departments by OFMDFM."
OFMDFM intend to put out a paper on the proposal for consultation soon.
(JG/GK)
The Office of First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) say the fund will be an integrated approach to enhance economic growth, employability and the sustainability of communities.
It will involve setting up economic enterprise zones in deprived areas across Northern Ireland.
First Minister Peter Robinson commented: "Despite the significant progress made in the last number of years towards prosperity, stability and peace there remains sections of the community that have not fully benefited from these changes. Given the current economic and fiscal situation there is a real risk that deprivation will continue, and may increase unless interventions are put in place.”
He continued: "Tackling these issues will require interventions of significant scale to be delivered in partnership with communities on a cross departmental basis. The fund will reduce poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration.
"The fund also recognises that deprivation occurs across a number of areas. We have therefore identified eight possible Investment zones upon which we will seek to consult widely."
Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness, said that the most immediate and effective way out of deprivation is through quality employment.
He added: "However there are substantial structural, historic, geographical and social barriers to employment and full participation in the economy for deprived communities.
It is recognised that to have a long term impact on issues of economic and social disadvantage government responses need to break from a silo approach, where responses operate independently of each other and replace this with an interdisciplinary approach coordinated across all government departments by OFMDFM."
OFMDFM intend to put out a paper on the proposal for consultation soon.
(JG/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
