Foster and Ó Muilleoir build communities with £700,000 Social Fund investment
Date published:
First Minister Arlene Foster and Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir today announced an investment of over £700,000 to help fund community facilities in the Fermanagh, Strabane, Omagh and Limavady areas.
The Community Premises Support project, funded by the Northern Ireland Executive’s Social Investment Fund, will provide financial assistance to voluntary groups of up to £20,000 to develop and improve the infrastructure of community buildings.
Speaking at the launch of the project at the Strule Arts Centre, Omagh the First Minister Arlene Foster said: “I very much welcome the launch of the Social Investment Fund Community Premises Project which means that over £700,000 is now available across the council areas of Omagh, Fermanagh, Strabane and Limavady to improve and upgrade buildings used to provide services for local communities.
“The Northern Ireland Executive introduced the Social Investment Fund to allow communities to bring about change for themselves. It is focused on working together to empower communities to identify their own needs and develop proposals to address them in partnership.
“Today’s announcement is tangible evidence of the Executive being able to deliver improved facilities for local people West of the Bann in the very near future and means that community organisations will have the opportunity to become self-sustaining, giving them more scope to provide a wider range of activities.
“I commend everyone who has been involved in bringing this project to fruition.”
Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir said: “Today’s announcement represents a significant investment in community infrastructure west of the Bann. In rural areas, local groups play an important role and these facilities provide a range of essential services to their communities.
“The Executive is committed to supporting rural communities through the Community Premises Support project and the capital projects committed to date will improve over 100 premises including the 26 that this project will deliver.”
The Northern Ireland Executive has awarded £709,316 to the project which is being delivered by Fermanagh and Omagh Council.
Notes to editors:
- Media enquiries to The Executive Office press office on 028 9037 8201. Out of office hours, please contact the duty press office via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
- Delivering Social Change is the Northern Ireland Executive’s framework, set up to tackle poverty and social exclusion. It aims to deliver a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues across all ages and to improve children and young people’s health, well-being and life opportunities thereby breaking the long term cycle of multi-generational problems. For more information go to: https://www.executiveoffice-ni.gov.uk/articles/delivering-social-change-introduction