'We're
focused on ending inequality'
From BELFAST TELEGRAPH January 14th, 2000
THE Northern Ireland Executive is committed to tackling inequality and social
need through an agreed strategy, Deputy First Minister Seamus Mallon has
said. An audience of community and voluntary organisations, trade unions
and public bodies at a conference in the Everglades Hotel, in Londonderry,
heard Mr Mallon stress the importance of Targeting Social Need (TSN) action
plans for tackling for both areas.
"The approach of this more focused TSN initiative is simple: efforts and available resources should be targeted at people, groups and areas in greatest need," he said. "The new TSN's aim to tackle social need and social exclusion and to ensure that the layers of deprivation that blight the lives of so many are removed, including poor health, housing, education and employment prospects." "By targeting need, the new TSN should contribute to the progressive elimination of the persistent community differentials that have haunted our society for so long."
Mr Mallon said that if the strategy was to succeed, the TSN would need a
co-ordinated approach across the Executive. It was for this reason that
the Equality Unit had been established at the centre of the new administration
at Stormont under junior ministers Denis Haughey and Dermot Nesbitt, the
SDLP deputy leader said. |
