16 December 2002

BROWNE PRAISES WORK OF GROUPS IN INTERFACE AREAS

The violence suffered by communities living along interface areas is intolerable and we must let those communities know that we recognise the seriousness of their situation, Des Browne, MP, the Minister with responsibility for Social Development said today.

The Minister was speaking at the Standing Community Convention, a forum set up by the Community Foundation to encourage the voluntary and community sector to look at the operation and delivery of the Peace II Programme and to elicit the policy lessons to be learned from this. He said:"There is no acceptable level of violence and we will do our utmost to identify what works to reduce that particular scourge on their lives. I am determined that the Community Action Group, which I announced recently, will drive forward actions to address the pressing issues surrounding the ongoing violence at interface areas. These include environmental measures to reduce the painting of sectarian graffiti and the displaying of flags and emblems."

The Minister commended the importance of the work undertaken by all the community organisations participating in the Peace II programme and stressed the importance of government listening to and learning from the deliberations of the Convention. He continued: "It is vital for Government to work in partnership with the voluntary and community sector so that we can ensure the most effective range of Peace and Reconciliation programmes is delivered. I would like to pay tribute to the work of the Community Foundation for Northern Ireland in this respect."

He also told delegates that consultations are to start shortly for the development of a new community relations policy framework.

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