Social Investment Fund Out for Consultation

17 November 2011

OFMDFM is currently out for consultation seeking views on the proposed operation of the the Social Investment Fund.

The establishment of a Social Investment Fund was agreed by The Executive on 22nd March 2011 and monies totalling £80million over a four year period were subsequently allocated in the Budget.

The high level aim of this Fund is to reduce poverty, unemployment and physical deterioration in areas through area based interventions of significant scale which will be delivered in partnership with communities.

The consultation document outlines an overview of the Fund, its proposed management structures, application and assessment criteria and options for delivery of funding.

The document highlights possible investment zones:

Greater North Belfast (Community Empowerment Partnership areas)
West Belfast and Greater Shankill Taskforce Area
Greater East Belfast, North Down and Ards
Greater South Belfast and Lagan Valley
Derry/Londonderry and greater North West (potentially 2 zones)
Antrim area (to include areas in Antrim Town; Ballymena; Carrickfergus and Larne)
North Armagh (to include areas in Craigavon, Lurgan and Portadown
Border (including areas across Newry and Mourne, Armagh City, South Armagh; Fermanagh South Tyrone and West Tyrone)
The consultation period offers rural constituents the opportunity to have their say on the operation of this Fund and responses are encouraged from across rural Northern Ireland.

The consultation period closes on 23rd December 2011. More information on the Fund and this consultation period is available by clicking

here