Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail any steps she is taking to support the level of footfall on high streets, in the Mid Ulster constituency.
Minister for the Economy: My Department works collaboratively across government and with local partners including councils to support economic development and regeneration across all constituencies.
Responsibility for town centre regeneration rests with the Department for Communities; the Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs is responsible for the development of smaller settlements and rural areas; and local economic policies primarily fall to local councils.
I have established a £45m Regional Balance Fund which empowers councils, through the creation of Local Economic Partnerships, to identify and address specific economic challenges in their area, including greater support for High Street businesses where local stakeholders consider it relevant and appropriate. The Mid Ulster Local Economic Partnership Action Plan includes programmes that will have a positive impact on town and village centres.
I will continue to work in partnership with Executive colleagues and councils to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth across all towns and regions.
ENDS
Your MLA 