16 October, 2008

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Pressure secures local renewal funding

Photo: Carál Ní Chuilín

THE securing of funding for a number of neighbourhood renewal projects in Belfast announced this week is a result of pressure on Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie by workers and communities, Sinn Féin Chief Whip and North Belfast MLA Carál Ní Chuilín said.
Ní Chuilín said that Margaret Ritchie’s delays were putting hundreds of jobs at risk and prompted many workers and supporters to take to the steps of Stormont this week to protest at the minister’s delays.
Welcoming the news, Ní Chuilín said:
“Firstly I want to congratulate the people who put pressure on the minister to see sense; they are to the fore in delivering much needed services and projects throughout Belfast and indeed the North of Ireland.
“What we need to see now is the funding for these projects processed as quickly as possible in order that these services can continue to work on the ground without any further delay as a result of Margaret Ritchie’s intransigence. We must also see  that those other contracts put at risk and not receiving funding are secured without further delay.
“What is important now is that people working in these projects, in some of our most deprived areas, receive assurances that their jobs will not be threatened in this shameful way again.”

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