Chris Lyttle MLA said:”I welcome this update from the First and deputy First Minister on the Investment Strategy, but it is short on any significant detail on action for a shared future. It is the single biggest challenge to economic and social development in Northern Ireland, however there is much more that should have be done on this issue.
“A divided society is a strain on our finances, harms our chances of foreign investment and prevents social justice. As their statement says effective investment is not just about quantity, any ten year strategy should therefore be more serious about tackling significant inefficiencies and the cost of segregation.
“While OFMDFM have published their ‘Together: Building a United Community’ document, the commitments it makes on shared education campuses, the regeneration of urban villages and shared neighbourhood developments, lack any detail, particularly regards finance.
“One shared education campus already planned is estimated to cost £150 million, yet we do not know how they are going to finance ten. Nor does this update tell us how they are going to resolve oversubscription and unmet parental demand for integrated schools.
“Alliance has put forward a radical plan in our ‘For Everyone’ strategy, with achievable goals on integrated education, public investment that will be open to all and genuine mixed housing, that will help create a society for everyone.
ENDS