AQO 4009/22-27 Oral question to the Minister for Communities
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on the People and Place Review, including when a final strategy will be published.
Asked by Nick Mathison MLA on 17 September 2026
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 17 September 2026
- Answer due by
- 29 September 2026
- Answered
- 29 September 202612 days after tabling
- Department
- Department for Communities
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 29 September 2026. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mr Lyons
I continue to see at first hand the excellent work delivered by community-sector partners through the neighbourhood renewal programme. In the past year, I have committed more than £21 million to the programme, and that is making a tangible difference to people living in our most deprived communities. That funding has enabled support for over 2,660 local community organisations and more than 340,000 volunteer hours in communities, helped over 2,266 people into employment through targeted training and employability initiatives and assisted community groups in securing in excess of £27 million in additional external funding. While the neighbourhood renewal programme's achievements are significant, I am keen for it to deliver even greater benefits for disadvantaged communities in the future. I intend for the review of the Executive's People and Place strategy, which has now concluded with the development of a draft strategic framework, to help in that process. As the existing strategy has been in operation for more than 20 years, time must be taken to ensure that the draft strategic framework has been thoroughly considered to ensure that that it can address our communities' needs and be implemented as a cross-Executive framework that aligns with the draft anti-poverty strategy. Once I have considered the draft strategic framework, the next step, subject to the agreement of my Executive colleagues, will be a public consultation exercise.
Mr Mathison
I thank the Minister for his answer. Will he confirm that, when a Budget is finally agreed, he will ensure that the community and voluntary sector, funded through People and Place schemes such as the small pockets of deprivation programme — I have seen evidence of its good work in my constituency — will be assured of a multi-year grant to allow for better planning?
Mr Lyons
The small pockets of deprivation programme is particularly important to the Member's constituency. He will be aware that it is delivered under People and Place and administered by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE). In the meantime, the grant will be paid quarterly in advance, consistent with arrangements in 2025-26. That will provide some stability for funded organisations during this challenging budgetary period. There is currently no change to the operation of the funding arrangements for the small pockets of deprivation programme. Once we have a Budget in place, however, I will work to ensure that we provide the certainty that is required.