AQO 583/10

Mrs Naomi Long
Alliance Party
East Belfast

Tabled Date: 07/01/2010
Answered On Date: 20/01/2010
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide an update on the production of a single draft document for public consultation on the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy.

Answer:

The draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration was originally meant to have been brought forward before the end of 2008. That and subsequent commitments on timing were made in good faith, and it was our expectation that those would be met. Reaching agreement on the Cohesion, Sharing and Integration strategy (CSI) remains one of the top policy priorities of OFMDFM.

Our commitment within the Programme for Government under PSA 7 “Making Peoples Lives Better” – Objective 5 – ‘to implement a programme of cohesion and integration for a shared and better future for all’ will be honoured. This issue is too important to get wrong and we will work at it until we have honoured that pledge.

Our officials continue to work intensively towards an agreed strategy and we believe that progress is being made that will benefit all our people now and over the longer term; work to promote community relations and good race relations has continued over the past two years, led and supported by us and the whole Ministerial team.