Speaking in Belfast today following the announcement of a
33 Million Pounds action plan to tackle deprivation in Protestant
communities, Orange Order Grand Master, Robert Saulters, gave
a guarded welcome to the proposals.
" We have waited thirty long years for the Government
to recognise the extreme problems and deprivation in inner
city Protestant areas and the isolation felt by rural Protestant
communities particularly around the Border.
We welcome the announcement of this action plan and 33 Million
Pounds funding and we stand ready and willing to co-operate
with the Government in its delivery.
In particular we have expertise in two of the key challenges
identified by the Government, namely growing civic and community
leadership and active citizenship and building communities
and social cohesion.
We will be seeking a Meeting with the Government as soon
as possible to see how we can co-operate in delivering programmes
designed to meet the needs posed by these two key challenges.
We would however flag up two concerns in relation to the
announcement:-
Firstly, the timescale of two years is very short. The problems
in Protestant communities are so immense that they cannot
be overcome within two years.
We would also like to see some formal political or community
involvement in the delivery of the action plan".
|
