‘Department must protect neighourhood renewal budget’ — Mullan

SINN Féin’s Karen Mullan has said any attempt to cut the Neighbourhood Renewal budget should be rigorously opposed.

Commenting after a Sinn Féin delegation met with the Permanent Secretary and officials in the Department for Communities, the Foyle MLA said:

“Sinn Féin support the call by Neighbourhood Renewal projects for their funding and services to be protected.

“Neighbourhood Renewal programmes have had a significant impact on regeneration, improving educational attainment and assisting residents in the most deprived areas to access employment.

“Executive departments have a statutory duty to address poverty and disadvantage and to target resources at areas most in need.

“We pressed department officials to ensure every effort is made to prevent cuts to the Neighbourhood Renewal budget this year and stressed the absolute need to invest in communities,” she added.

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