17 January 2006
INVOLVEMENT OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IS CENTRAL TO REGENERATION
The active involvement of communities in regeneration is essential the Social Development Minister said today.
David Hanson MP was speaking during a visit to Ballykeel Business Centre in Ballymena today at which he was expected to meet DUP leader and MP for North Antrim, Rev Ian Paisley and community representatives from Ballykeel, Ballee, Harryville and Ahoghill about the difficulties faced by communities in their areas.
The Minister said: "Since September, I have held 25 meetings with elected representatives and community leaders, particularly from loyalist and unionist areas, on the problems of deprivation. Many of these meetings have been in Belfast but I think that it is also important to listen to the views of people working on the ground in towns like Ballymena.
"Over the past four years, DSD has invested over £2¼ million in community based regeneration projects in Ballymena. We are actively working on other projects that could see a further £1 million of DSD funding being provided."
The Minister announced further funding for the Ballykeel Business Centre creating the potential for up to 30 new jobs.
He said: "Ballykeel's community owned economic development project offers a template for other disadvantaged neighbourhoods having already created 25 full time and 19 part time jobs. I am pleased to announce additional funding of over £300,000 from the Neighbourhood Renewal fund which could create a further 20 full time and 10 part time jobs over the next three years, bringing the total funding provided by DSD to over £½million.
"The Government recognises that tackling deprivation is not easy and that there is still much more that needs to be done. Some communities have not been able to feel the full benefit of regeneration schemes in the past because they did not have the skills, knowledge and experience that they needed to contribute effectively to the development of their own areas. Building community capacity must therefore be a key element of our approach.
"In March I plan to publish a plan focusing on how Government can help empower working class protestant communities to tackle the problems of in their neighbourhoods. We need to develop more integrated approaches to local regeneration. This will take time and involve new ways of working but is necessary to ensure that the significant resources already deployed link together to make a sustainable impact."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
- The Minister met a number of local community leaders and politicians representing the Ballykeel, Ballee, Harryville and Ahoghill areas.
- For further information please contact the Information Office on 028 9082 9078.
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