Educational attainment enhanced in Omagh through neighbourhood renewal funding

The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie today announced funding of £14,944 to provide a programme to improve educational attainment in Omagh.

Acknowledging the need to address deprivation locally, the Minister highlighted the focus on the provision of education for all as central to tackling this issue within the Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Area. A pilot project will provide additional tuition for children at Primary School aged 8 to 12 years old while a support programme will be provided for the families of Year 11 children preparing for GCSEs.

Commenting on the education project the Minister said: “I recognise that if we are to tackle the long term spiral of deprivation we must improve the life chances of those living in our most deprived communities. It is vital that all our children, regardless of background and particularly those living in the Neighbourhood Renewal areas are given the opportunity to achieve their full potential."

The Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Partnership completed an action plan in March 2007 and to date over £500,000 has been committed to the Omagh area from the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund. This investment is further evidence of the Department’s commitment to support people living in the Omagh Neighbourhood Renewal Area which includes O’Kane Park, Gallows Hill, Johnston Park, Campsie, Mullaghmore and Strathroy.

She went on to recognise the improvements in service delivery and the local environment being achieved through the Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy and commented: “Neighbourhood Renewal funding is an excellent means of supporting innovative projects which will make a difference for those living in deprived areas. I believe that we are already making a difference with significant investment and we will continue to focus on supporting key services that are capable of addressing the core causes of deprivation within this area.”

A Neighbourhood Partnership that includes representation from across the Neighbourhood Renewal Area has been established to lead in the regeneration of the area and 15 projects have been supported to date under the Neighbourhood Renewal Investment Fund.

Notes to Editors:

1. The Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 'People and Place' which was published in June 2003, sets out Government’s proposals for closing the gap between the quality of life for people in the most deprived neighbourhoods and the rest of society. Its objectives include four inter linking strategic objectives:

• Community Renewal - to develop confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in their areas.
• Economic Renewal - to develop economic activity in the most deprived neighbourhoods and connect them to the wider urban economy.
• Social Renewal - to improve social conditions for the people who live in the most deprived neighbourhoods through better co-ordinated public services and the creation of safer environments.
• Physical Renewal - to help create attractive, safe and sustainable environments in the most deprived neighbourhoods.

2. The projects which have or are being supported include a range of social, educational, physical and community capacity building projects.

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