DSD pledges support to deprived Derry areas

Minister for Social Development John Spellar today pledged his Department’s support to people living in some of the most deprived areas of Londonderry.

The Minister was announcing the Department’s Draft Implementation Plan and Equality Impact Assessment for Neighbourhood Renewal in the city.

The Draft Plan includes proposals on how the neighbourhoods will be chosen, how and by whom the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy will be implemented and what kind of schemes might be supported. An Equality Impact Assessment detailing how Neighbourhood Renewal will affect the Section 75 groups who live within and outside the Neighbourhood Renewal Areas accompanies it.

The Minister said: "I believe that Neighbourhood Renewal will help to transform our most deprived urban areas and provide genuine opportunities for local communities to influence the services being provided in their area.

"Consultation is a very important part of developing any policy or strategy and the consultation period on these documents extends until 31 January 2005. The plan also explains how we will link the Neighbourhood Renewal approach with our other urban regeneration activities.

"We will build upon the policies that have been effective in the past and ensure that all our urban regeneration policy instruments work in ways that reinforce each other."

The Minister also announced the extension of the Urban Development Grant, administered by DSD, from the city centre area to arterial routes and Neighbourhood Renewal Areas in Londonderry.

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