Minister McCausland outlines his priorities to the sector

The audience was made up of people working on the front line of some of the most pressing social, economic and environmental problems facing Northern Ireland, such as housing, debt and welfare rights, family support, urban regeneration, rural isolation, fuel poverty and community relations. 

The event is part of NICVA’s Vital Links work, a project supported by the European Union’s Peace III Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

Questions on a range of issues

The event included a very lively debate, with questions ranging from the role of housing associations, to welfare reform, support for volunteers, childcare, poverty, absentee landlords in South Belfast, urban regeneration in Lenadoon, community development in rural areas, capital investment in the North West and how to successfully help people into work.

Speaking after the event, NICVA’s Chief Executive Seamus McAleavey said:

“NICVA was delighted when the Minister agreed to meet with the sector in such an open and transparent way.  As the DSD Minister is the champion Minister for the voluntary and community sector on the NI Executive, it was no surprise to us that interest in today’s speech was so high.  Voluntary and community organisations are already dealing with the impacts of the economic downturn on the people, families and communities they work with.  They were keen to quiz the Minister on how they can work with his Department to solve some of these important problems."

McCausland 'proud'

During the event Nelson McCausland, Minister for Social Development, said he was proud to be the lead Minister for the voluntary and community sector and told the audience that “the history of the voluntary and community sector tackling need is widely recognised and the future could be greater still."

Following the event, he commented: 

“As Minister responsible for relationships between government and the voluntary and community sector, I am very pleased to outline my thinking on some of the key challenges we all face.  I was also able to hear first hand the views of the voluntary and community sector and I intend to share these with my Executive colleagues as we finalise our Programme for Government for the next four years.”

A copy of the Minister's speech is available for download below.