Government funding to transform loyalist areas

Northern Ireland Secretary of State, Peter Hain, has today announced that the Government have agreed to fund the development stage of a conflict transformation initiative in loyalist areas throughout the province.

The project was proposed to the government by the Ulster Political Research Group (UPRG).

Commenting on the announcement, Mr. Hain said that setting communities free from criminality and the influence of paramilitaries will not just happen of its own accord or overnight.

He said: “It needs to be worked for and those who have shown that they are committed to doing that, and have ideas about how it can be done, deserve support.

“That is why I have authorised this funding.”

The initial stage of the project is expected to last up to six months and the funds - £135,000 to employ project workers - will be administered by Farset Community Enterprises, a community organisation based in north-west Belfast.

The project workers will engage with community representatives and key stakeholders in a number of loyalist areas to identify and develop sustainable mechanisms to help turn those areas away from paramilitarism and criminality.

Mr. Hain continued: “Suggestions that the Government would ‘buy off’ paramilitaries by handing them £70m or £30m are without any foundation whatsoever. Not only are they wrong, they are wilfully mischievous.

“Trying to transform parts of society that have suffered most from the grip of paramilitaries and criminality is not easy and not without risk.

“There will be those who do not want to change and we will do absolutely everything in our power to drive them out of business.”

Me Hain concluded by saying that he hopes that this project will help point the way for those who do want to change and that will be for the benefit of everyone in Northern Ireland.

(EF/SP)