West Belfast Sinn Féin Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Fra McCann asks if SDLP is trying to introduce political vetting in west Belfast

Published: 4 October, 2008

West Belfast Sinn Féin MLA Fra McCann has said that the lack of clarity from Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie about the future of the Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme is putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

Mr McCann said:

"Everyone knows that Margaret Ritchie is trying to off-load her responsibility for neighbourhood renewal onto local government but the worrying aspect is that she is trying of off-load this responsibility with no clear commitment to provide funding for local councils to carry out this function.

"There is no certainty of whether or not the funding will be put in place. This is causing a great deal of stress and concern not just for those people employed within the community and voluntary sector but also for many people living in deprived areas who could end up losing these vital services.

"Many of those employed through Neighbourhood Renewal Scheme have their contracts coming to an end at Christmas or in March. Margaret Ritchie should stop playing games with people's livelihoods and set out very clearly how she plans to retain these vital posts.

"What we are getting from Minister Ritchie is a lack of clarity and as a result of that people in marginalised communities will suffer greatly."

'I would call on unions to be vocal in supporting community and voluntary sector workers.

'Also, the comments of Dolores Kelly in the Assembly debate on this issue when she talked about 'jobs for the boys and the girls' needs to be challenged.

'Is this the SDLP trying to introduce some form of political vetting similar to what former direct rule minister Douglas Hurd was involved in during the 1980s when the community sector in west Belfast came under attack?'