Dan Wallace
Question:63 Mr. D. Wallace asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concern regarding the perception that inner city renewal benefits the population of the inner city last and least. [12573/95]
Written Answers. - Inner City Renewal.
M. J. Nolan
Question:66 Mr. Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the concern regarding the perception that inner city renewal benefits the population of the inner city last and least. [12574/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 66 together.
I am aware of concerns which have been expressed about the extent to which urban renewal benefits inner city communities. I take the view that the economic and social benefits of urban renewal must benefit all of our urban populations, particularly those who are unemployed or disadvantaged. There have been some successes in providing local job opportunities, job placements resulting from community employment, and special training and development programmes in association with various urban renewal initiatives. We can do more in this area by adopting more effective approaches to local employment and enterprise generation and through ensuring that local authorities work closely with bodies such as the enterprise boards and area based partnerships on the various urban renewal and local development initiatives which are under way. It is my intention to explore every possible avenue of ensuring that urban renewal benefits as wide a cross-section of inner city populations as possible.