4 August 2005
DAVID HANSON ANNOUNCES SANDY ROW PROGRESS
Social Development Minister David Hanson has announced further progress in his department’s work to help the Sandy Row community.
The Minister said:
"I am determined to ensure that the Sandy Row report, which was published in January by a team of civil servants working in the area, will be implemented. I will be giving priority to the suggested actions for improvement, including many in relation to the delivery and effectiveness of public services."My Department has already provided Neighbourhood Renewal Phase II funding for three key posts in the Sandy Row Community Forum and has facilitated the recruitment process for these posts. Two of the three posts have been filled with active recruitment proceeding for the third.
This directly addresses one of the key issues raised by community groups during consultation, the difficulty caused by short-term periods of funding.
The Minister continued: "My Department has drawn up an action plan for the Sandy Row Community Forum, has assisted local community groups and participated in local education initiatives. It is also negotiating the proposed provision of a resource centre and is working within the community and Government Departments to influence discussions whilst
facilitating Departmental officials to participate and work with groups in the area."I am determined to maintain the
momentum generated by both the Sandy Row and Greater Village Reports and my Department is actively recruiting a Neighbourhood Manager who will work with Departments, the local communities and the newly formed South West Belfast Partnership to bring forward the actions outlined in both reports. I have also promised that I will return to the area early in the New Year to give an update on progress to the local community."NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Taskforce - addressing the needs of Protestant working class communities - was established in April 2004 by the then Minister, John Spellar and is made up of senior civil servant.
- The Sandy Row and Village Project Team of civil servants was disbanded on completion of its work. One member remains as a temporary Neighbourhood Manager until a permanent manager is appointed.
- The objectives of the initiative were to examine the effectiveness of public services and identify scope for improvement, to bring forward initiatives for better access to employment and training and to identify measures to promote community development.
- Neighbourhood Renewal is the Government strategy to target the most acute deprivation by concentrating on the worst districts across Northern Ireland. Implementation of the Strategy will be led by the Department for Social Development’s Regeneration Offices. The Strategy will roll out over a 7-10 year period, allowing a longer term, more targeted and integrated approach to be used to ensure that people living in the most deprived neighbourhoods have access to the best services and opportunities to make for a better quality of life and to improve their environment and image of their neighbourhoods.
- The South West Belfast Neighbourhood Partnership was established on 24 June 2005. Community representatives from the Greater Village, Sandy Row and Donegall Road areas have been elected to the Partnership and the first meeting was held on 24 June 2005. The partnership will produce local vision frameworks and action plans and take into account the Sandy Row and Greater Village Reports.
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