It is also why in the Department of Education, Paul Givan is investing in the RAISE programme, to tackle educational underachievement across the community, including working class Protestant boys.
We are also working together to deliver the “Your School, Your Club” programme so that we can improve school sports facilities which will also benefit the local community. I have increased the budget for this from £500k last year to £3m this year and we will see benefits realised across Northern Ireland.
We will do more. I am currently finalising plans for a new Community Halls Scheme – another commitment the DUP made at election time. This initiative will support facilities like Orange halls, church halls and other venues run by voluntary and community groups. The scheme will help improve facilities and enhance the services they provide to people in towns, villages and rural areas across Northern Ireland.
And next week I will be launching a consultation on a once in a generation fund called Shaping Sustainable Places. This multi million-pound scheme, led by my department in conjunction with DAERA and DfI, will deliver regeneration projects through our local councils over the next ten years.
This is the kind of work that Stormont must be doing if it is to be worthwhile. Across every department we control, the DUP is working to honour our commitments and deliver positive change that will be of benefit to the people we serve.
Thank you once again for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
