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Northern Ireland Office

Answer

Mrs. Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the role of women's centres in Northern Ireland. [223353] Mr. Spellar: The range of services provided by women's organisations is extensive and impacts primarily on disadvantaged communities. These services can be broadly broken down into three areas: i. Core activities--community development and support to women on a range of matters. ii. Childcare--early years provision day care. iii. Education and training--often supported directly by child care provision, and aimed at building skills and confidence among women who have been out of education and/or the labour market for a significant time. Short-term funding of £1.1 million has been made available to a number of women's organisations that are facing financial difficulties to enable them to continue to provide key services over the next six months period. This will allow them to continue to provide valuable services on which many people in their communities depend while alternative longer-term funding from a variety of Government Departments and agencies is considered.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

432 c1426W;432 c1422W; 223353

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Childcare Disadvantaged Community development Advisory services Women Finance Northern Ireland Voluntary organisations

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk