AQW 2249/17-22

Mr Stewart Dickson
Alliance Party
East Antrim

Tabled Date: 18/02/2020
Answered On Date: 09/03/2020
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy what her plans are to implement the previous Executive's Economic Inactivity Strategy.

Answer:

‘Enabling Success’ was the previous Executive’s strategy for addressing the high level of economic inactivity rate in Northern Ireland. This was a joint strategy between the former Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the former Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).

Following Departmental restructuring in 2016, responsibility for the Enabling Success Strategy transferred to the Department for Communities. Although the Strategy is no longer active, the broad principles remain relevant given the current level of economic inactivity across Northern Ireland. Key components of the Strategy are being progressed by the Department for Communities within the ‘Employability NI’ Programme and my officials are members of the Programme Board.

Through the development of a new Northern Ireland Skills Strategy, to cover the period 2021-2030, my Department will continue to work closely with the Department for Communities on measures to reduce economic inactivity, providing support and opportunities so that everyone can contribute to and benefit from our growing economic prosperity.