24 May 2000
MINISTER OPENS £2M COMMUNITY PROJECT IN LURGAN
George Howarth, the Minister for Social Development, today opened an innovative community venture providing housing and support for young people at Mount Zion House in Lurgan. The new centre will create 15 news jobs immediately increasing to 34 by the end of the year.
The project is located in a former convent building refurbished to include 40 units of bedsit accommodation, training and creche facilities, together with a centre for peace and reconciliation.
The Minister congratulated Lurgan Community Trust, who manage the project, which was principally funded by the Department of Social Development, the European Union Special Programme for Peace and Recreation and the Physical and Social Environment Programme.
He said: "I welcome this programme which will help young people both in terms of housing and in providing training that will enable them to find employment. This is a good example of the best in community development and is one of several which my department and the EU are supporting throughout Northern Ireland.
"I am especially pleased to see the social inclusion dimension. The cross-community involvement at Mount Zion House shows that people can leave behind the divisions of the past and work together for a better and more tolerant society."
The Minister also paid tribute to the role of Hugh Casey, Chairman of Lurgan Community Trust who has been the driving force behind the Mount Zion project.
Mr Casey said: "The project is the fourth Foyer project to open in the province providing accommodation, training and employment for young people. The current government is committed to the development of such projects. This new centre will provide a two-year holistic training programme for single people aged 17-25 years to develop their social life and vocational skills.
"Lurgan has experienced much segregation throughout the Troubles. Now, as we enter our new peace keeping time, centres such as these will help develop cross-community activities and act as a catalyst for bridging gaps. Besides the Foyer Project we also have a restaurant, creche facilities for 68 children, a community relations officer, computer training suite and hall which will be used for a range of events including meetings of peace and reconciliation."
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
- The Mount Zion project provides a Foyer facility of 40 beds which will help deal with homelessness and provide accommodation for young people on training courses. It also includes training, catering and conference facility along with a creche.
- The total cost was approximately £2 million.
- For further information please contact the information office at the Department for Social Development on 02890569219