Other News In Brief

Lo Launches First Intercultural Arts Strategy

Alliance MLA Anna Lo has launched the first ever Intercultural Arts Strategy that was put together by the Arts Council. She launched the report this morning in the Crescent Arts Centre in South Belfast. The Arts Council strategy recognises the changing face of society in Northern Ireland and its increasing cultural diversity. It flags up the need to promote cultural pluralism, develop good relations and tackle racism within and between communities and their cultures. The Arts Council also announced today that it plans to introduce a new funding programme this Autumn which will concentrate on strengthening the minority ethnic arts infrastructure across Northern Ireland.

Anna Lo MLA said: “I am delighted to be involved in the launch of the Intercultural Arts Strategy during Community Relations Week. It heralds a significant step in addressing the barriers facing minority ethnic groups here in Northern Ireland. I have witnessed first-hand the positive impact that arts initiatives can have at a grassroots level and look forward to seeing the results of this strategy in years to come.

“The new funding programme is extremely welcome and it is essential in order to progress the actions contained within the strategy. At a time when funding is being cut or, in the case of the Ethnic Development Fund, inexcusably and unacceptably delayed, this strategy along with its funding stream provides a lifeline for some ethnic communities."

Establishment Of Nursery Unit Approved

Education Minister, John O'Dowd, has approved the establishment of a 26 place part-time nursery unit at Bronte Primary School, Banbridge.

Commenting on his decision, the Minister said: "The establishment of this new facility will be a welcome announcement to the area and will provide nursery provision to children who would otherwise travel outside their immediate locality to access a pre-school place.

"It is common knowledge that my Department faces significant financial pressures, particularly on its front line schools’ budget. It is therefore important that we maximise the impact of available pre-school resources and avoid unnecessary over-provision or duplication. On this occasion there was a clear gap in provision and a need to create more pre-school places for the benefit of the children in this rural community.

Ritchie Challenges The Secretary Of State On Welfare Cuts

Speaking during Northern Ireland questions at Westminster Margaret Ritchie, the SDLP MP for South Down, has warned that the Conservative government’s welfare cuts will damage the Northern Ireland economy and hurt the most vulnerable in society.

She called on the Secretary of State to make a proper impact assessment of the welfare cuts in Northern Ireland:

"It is clear from the Secretary of State’s response that his department and the Department of Work and Pensions have done little or nothing to develop a comprehensive impact assessment for welfare reform cuts in Northern Ireland. With the economy back in recession and youth unemployment on the rise we need to protect rather than vilify those who bear the brunt of the government’s failure to grow the economy and create jobs.

"These cuts will remove over half a billion pounds from the Northern Ireland economy in the coming years and will impact on the least privileged within society. The SDLP have always stood up for the most vulnerable and we have grave concerns that these measures will plunge more people into hardship and long term poverty."

(CD/GK)