Newry Armagh Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

MLA raises concerns around Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal

Published: 13 May, 2009

Newry and Armagh Assembly member, Mickey Brady has asked a number of questions of the Minister of Social Development regarding serious concerns around Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Board.

'The whole rationale of Neighbourhood Renewal is to empower local people to best decide how funding should be used to enhance their communities in areas of health, education, environment and development. Unfortunately, due to a related dispute which was not of the community representatives making and over which complete control lies with Armagh City and District Council, community representatives have not been attending Partnership Board meetings.'

'While Armagh NRPB have continued to meet, it is within DSD and NRPB guidelines that in reality these meetings may be invalid as there has been no community involvement, yet decisions have been made to the detriment of communities which they believe highlights that they are doing nothing more than rubber stamping DSD decisions and that their involvement is little more than a smoke screen to allow the failings of the Neighbourhood Renewal strategy being over seen by the Minister to be hidden by the loose and incorrect terminology of 'community involvement' and 'partnership'.

The Sinn Féin MLA, who sits on the Social Development Committee in Stormont concluded;

'I have asked the Minister to investigate this totally unacceptable situation currently in place within Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership Board, and to also ensure that the Action Plan agreed by all, including community representatives, is delivered in full with all actions and priorities carried out. I would hope the Minister gives this urgent attention and ensures that those people in the voluntary community sector who have raised these concerns have those concerns recognised and taken seriously.'