Written by Anne Billiet, TWN
Towards a childcare strategy
TWN has responded to this consultation as follows:
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Programme for Government 2011-2015
The First and deputy First Minister published the draft Programme for Government, laying out the Executive's commitments and priorities for 2011-2015.
TWN has responded to this consultation as follows:
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Social Investment Fund
The Executive agreed on 22 March 2011 to establish a Social Investment Fund with monies totalling £80 million over a four year period. The 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 purpose of the consultation is to seek the public's views on the options for applying the fund, application/assessment criteria, how the fund should be managed and the structures to support its delivery.
TWN has responded to this consultation as follows:
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Northern Ireland Inquiry: Call for written evidence
TWN's response to the Associate Parliamentary Group on Women, Peace and Security
- Should UN Security Council resolution 1325 be directly implemented in Northern Ireland? How is the resolution currently being implemented and by whom? What actions need to be taken to implement resolution 1325?
- Are women disadvantaged in peace building and governance in Northern Ireland? If so, how?
- Are women's needs, experiences, realities and gender perspectives being taken into account in peace building and governance in Northern Ireland? If so, how?
- What measures have HM Government and the Northern Ireland Executive been taking in order to address criticisms on the implementation of resolution 1325 in the 2008 CEDAW report? Has additional information on the implementation of Resolution 1325 in Northern Ireland been provided to CEDAW?
- Should HM Government include provisions relating directly to Northern Ireland in the National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security? What has the involvement of the Northern Ireland Office, the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland civil society organisations in the development of the National Action Plan been to date and how should departments be engaged in the future?
- Does the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Executive demonstrate adequate understanding of UNSCR1325 and its requirements? What actions have they taken to implement resolution 1325 throughout government policy and provide training for staff?
Download TWN's response [PDF - 210.21 KB]
Written by John Mooney, TWN
OFMDFM - Draft budget 2011-2015
TWN's response to the Finance Director of OFMDFM
TWN realises that reductions in the block grant means that departmental cuts will have to made yet it appears that the department has not taken into consideration the negative impact the cuts have already made to women at a Westminster level as demonstrated by the Fawcett Society as seen in a previous letter TWN sent to OFMDFM on 18th August 2010.
The fact that this budget is taking place before a Programme for Government has been decided is also worrying as the latter normally takes place before the former and reveals that these budget decisions are not aligned to priorities which means that measurable targets for promoting and protecting women become immensely more difficult to achieve. The limited information provided in this consultation paper also adds to this difficultly.
Written by John Mooney, TWN
DEL - Budget settlement and proposals to reduce expenditure
TWN's response to the Finance Director of the Department for Employment and Learning
TWN welcomes the Department’s aim “to promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy” through the promotion of economic, social and personal development through high quality learning, research and skills training and helping people into employment through the promotion of good working practices.
However TWN also have a number of concerns with the proposed budget as well. We are concerned that the Department will not be able to bring forward the trigger point for intervention from 18 to 12 months for the over 25 unemployed as in line with the rest of the UK. This is creating a real risk of this group becoming long term unemployed. Committee for Employment and Learning figures in their report on NEETs suggest that this group is particularly at risk of remaining unemployed even after 5 years once falling into this category.
Read more: DEL – Budget Settlement and Proposals to reduce expenditure
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Early years (0-6) strategy
The purpose of this consultation is to set out a list of proposals that links the early years services for children with the new Foundation Stage in the first years of Primary School. It looks to gain cohesion between the policies and services affecting early years so that children and parents get the best possible outcomes.
Download TWN response [PDF - 303.09 KB]
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) has launched the Northern Ireland Executive’s draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration (CSI).
This is an important document and one in which we need to ensure that local women’s voices are heard at Governmental level. The final document will set the direction for a shared, prosperous and democratic future for everyone in
Download TWN response[PDF - 322.76 KB]
Read more: Draft Programme for Cohesion, Sharing and Integration
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Belfast City Council - PEACE III: Phase II of the Belfast Peace and Reconciliation Action Plan 2011-2013
This consultation document is intended to assist the Good Relations Partnership in the identification of suitable projects and programmes to be included in the bid for PEACE III funding under Priority 1.1 of the PEACE III Programme. This document sets out the context for the next phase of the Peace Plan for 2011-2013 and invites comments from interested parties on proposals.
Download TWN response [PDF - 266.24 KB]
Written by John Mooney, TWN
Order to restore Lottery funding for arts, heritage and sport
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport are seeking the views of the public on its plans to change how the lottery good causes money is divided between arts, heritage, sports and the Big Lottery Fund. At present the Big Lottery Fund receives half of the total money obtained from the National Lottery good causes allocation, with the other 50% spread equally between the arts, sports and heritage sectors. Under plans from the coalition government the apportionment to good causes will change to 20% to each of arts, sport and heritage with the remaining 40% allocated to the Big Lottery Fund. This will greatly affect members as a lot will receive this funding, but the current proposals will now make it harder to access this funding as less money will be available.
Download TWN response [PDF - 257.79 KB]
Read more: Order to restore Lottery funding for arts, heritage and sport
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