To ask the Minister for Communities, in light of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation Poverty in Northern Ireland 2025 report, to outline any targeted, place-based interventions his Department, working alongside the Department for the Economy, is implementing to address the concentration of low pay and poverty in Causeway Coast and Glens.

Mr Lyons

I am aware of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation's 'Poverty in Northern Ireland 2025' report, particularly the information in it regarding the high rate of relative poverty after housing costs and the difficulty with accessing jobs with remote and hybrid working in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area and other parts of Northern Ireland. We are working alongside the council to support the Causeway Coast and Glens growth deal. Those growth deals allow for place-based regeneration and represent a shift towards localised economic development, empowering local authorities with resources to drive tailored strategic support. We are also working closely with the council on the proposed leisure and well-being centre, which is one of the growth deal projects. That is currently at outline business case stage, requiring departmental approval. In addition, my officials are represented on the board supporting the Coleraine Pride in Place programme. That is a 10-year UK Government-funded programme worth £20 million that is aimed at tackling deprivation with a focus on community-led improvements, allowing local people to decide how funds are used to regenerate disadvantaged neighbourhoods and to restore pride in their area.

Mr Lyons

I hope that, in the first place, the councils responded to the consultation to ensure that their views are known. Engagement will continue not only on the strategy but on all the other ways in which councils will help us deliver some of the other plans and strategies that we have in place. I have not yet received the read-out of the meeting, so I have not gone into the detail with officials at this stage. I am happy to see what learning we can get from that. Councils have a very important role to play in helping us achieve the ambition that is set out in the document.

Mr Brett

In North Belfast, our councils do vital work to support the long-term unemployed and those who are economically inactive into work. Does the Minister agree that one of the greatest ways to get people out of poverty is by supporting them into work?

Mr Lyons

Yes, absolutely. Some of the programmes that I have put in place have made a real change to people's lives. JobStart is one of the most successful tools in our armoury for tackling unemployment. It has a success rate of over 70% return on investment. That is phenomenal, not just from a financial viewpoint. Programmes can make a difference. Getting people into work is really important. One of my greatest concerns, however, is the working poor: those who do the right thing by trying to get employment but still seem to be hit all the time. I am investing to try to make a difference in their lives. That is why I will be launching the warm healthy homes fund to make key improvements to people's lives so that we increase their income where we can and reduce their outgoings. The cost of heating their home has one of the biggest impacts on people's income. I have a plan to tackle just that.