Social Investment Fund: East Belfast

Oral Answers to Questions — Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:00 pm on 1 February 2016.

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Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton DUP 2:00, 1 February 2016

2. Mr Newton asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on social investment fund projects in East Belfast. (AQO 9495/11-16)

Photo of Martin McGuinness Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin

A Cheann Comhairle, with your permission I will ask junior Minister McCann to take the question.

Photo of Jennifer McCann Jennifer McCann Sinn Féin

The social investment fund is a growing success story. It is at the heart of the Executive's Delivering Social Change framework, making life-changing differences to people in communities facing disadvantage. Twenty-five projects, valued at £37 million, have now commenced, with 10 operational and more in the pipeline. In addition, over 600 participants are benefiting from projects in areas such as early intervention, employment and childcare. We can expect these numbers to ramp up significantly as delivery continues.

Belfast East allocated £8 million to employment, education and capital projects. Good progress has been made on the capital side with two of the capital projects — Best of the East and Bryson Street Surgery — due to complete construction by 31 March 2016. Also, letters of offer have been issued to the approved components of the zone's capital cluster project. We are working to expedite approvals for the remaining three revenue projects.

Photo of Robin Newton Robin Newton DUP

I thank the junior Minister for her answer. I do not think I have to spell out just how important the revenue projects are, but I ask the junior Minister if she will take on board the need to push forward, in particular, on the employment and education revenue initiatives. Does the junior Minister agree with me that, in addressing capital investment, it is much better to take a strategic approach in an area — I suggest the Clarawood estate — rather than a piecemeal approach to the development of any capital projects.

Photo of Jennifer McCann Jennifer McCann Sinn Féin

I totally agree with the Member's last comment. I think we learned the lesson, through the Urban Village programme, that you have to make a connection with the council, particularly in terms of community planning. It is very important with capital projects that you are not doing one thing in central government and another in local government. These projects, particularly those relating to the social investment fund, were ones where the community came together and decided who would be in the steering groups. They were the ones who decided which projects were the most important going forward.

You are totally right about the early intervention and employment projects. In other areas, the other junior Minister and I have been at launches, and, from talking to people who have participated in the programmes, we know that they have been quite successful in the way they were rolled out.

Photo of Dolores Kelly Dolores Kelly Social Democratic and Labour Party

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I scarcely recognise the description of the social investment fund as one of the most successful programmes of the Executive, given that we are so far behind in delivering it. Does the Minister not agree with me that, five years into the Programme for Government, we should be doing post-project evaluations and not trying to get letters of offer out? What will happen to the money that is unspent? Does the Minister anticipate that it will run into the next Programme for Government? Will it be another five years before it is spent?

Photo of Jennifer McCann Jennifer McCann Sinn Féin

I understand that everybody was frustrated that the programme took a while to be rolled out, but I remind the Member that £58 million has been committed since 22 January. A further £22 million of the £80 million has been allocated to projects that are in the approval process. There are about nine revenue projects that are in the process now and have started. Five capital projects are at the construction stage, two are due to be completed, as I said, by 31 March, and one has already been completed in Coleraine.

You have to understand that revenue projects are not just projects that you spend money on right away. Some of the revenue projects will be over a two or three-year period, so you do not just spend it right away anyway. They will have to be given money as they go along. We have to remember that this was a new programme. We are now in a position where £58 million has been committed and £22 million has been allocated to projects that are in the approval process. In my opinion, that is progress.