Local Works! Northern Ireland

Monday 29 October 2007

Tuesday 30 October 2007

9:00

14:00

Hastings Europa Hotel- Belfast

Full Fee: £295 / Reduced Fee: £210

Event

Keynote speakers:

Margaret Ritchie MLA, Minister for Social Development, Department for Social Development
Greg McConnell, Deputy Secretary for Employment and Learning, Department for Employment and Learning

What does the future hold for the regeneration of Northern Ireland’s deprived communities? The return of devolution will help to stimulate economic growth but do we have the tools and resources to help create a prosperous future for all parts of Northern Ireland? Major investment is needed in our physical and social infrastructure to provide an environment that encourages economic growth and creates opportunity. How do we pay for this investment, and how do we make sure the benefits of growth reaches all of our communities?

Local Works! will debate some of the critical questions that now face Northern Ireland. How do we relate to the successful economy in the Republic of Ireland? Why are so many of the working age population not working and what can we do about it? What does the reform of local authorities really mean to the men, women and child on the street? What does welfare reform mean for Northern Ireland? How do we make sure that new jobs are created and unemployed people benefit? How do we improve the skills of our workforce?

What is Local Works?

The purpose of Local Works is to showcase what works, what works well and what we can learn from others involved in regeneration policy and initiatives. Local Works! Northern Ireland will include contributions on a number of topical areas including:

• Reform of local government – any further developments?

• Welfare reform – examples of the potential for welfare reform.

• Boosting skill levels – how do we increase training for the Northern Ireland workforce?

• Community Planning and Local Area Agreements – practice not policy!

• Future EU structural funds and Peace III programme – ready to deliver?

• Neighbourhood renewal – case studies from the UK.

• Rural development – challenges facing our rural communities.

• Successful examples of enterprise development – what we can learn from others?

• Integration of migrant labour – how do we promote cohesion?

• Employment and health – health matters for those on Incapacity Benefit andwanting work.

• Pathways programme – what we can learn from the UK pilots.

Local Works! is also about how programmes can respond to local needs. The Comprehensive Spending Review, the recent commitment from the EU to assist enterprise development, new cross border funding and existing government policies are important contributors to the way forward.