Dodds welcomes £11 million package for north Belfast

The Minister for Social Development, Nigel Dodds, has welcomed the announcement of an investment of £6.8 million from the European Union which he hopes will go some way towards regenerating inner parts of troubled north Belfast.

In addition to the £6.8 million from Europe, the investment is expected to attract a further £3.6 million from the public sector and £0.6 million from the private sector, bringing the total investment to £11 million.

Minister Dodds said: “Inner north Belfast is recognised as the most deprived area in Northern Ireland. This announcement will have a positive impact on addressing the long-term economic and social issues of the area. It is a further recognition of the widespread problems of north Belfast, as well as a reassurance to the local community that plans and programmes are being developed to rebuild both communities.

“The money will be used to reconstruct land and property blighted by violence and economic decline, and provide local people with the necessary training and skills to access lasting employment. It is hoped that the first call for funding applications shall be in the late spring with the programme running until 2006.

“My Department recognises the scale of the problems in north Belfast and this announcement is part of a wider range of initiatives targeted at the area. These include the £133 million North Belfast Housing Strategy and the North Belfast Community Action Project which was announced jointly with the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.” (AMcE)