North Belfast's two Sinn Féin assembly members Gerry Kelly and Carál Ní Chuilín along party Constituency Manager for North Belfast Shauneen Baker met with the North’s minister for social development Margaret Ritchie this week to discuss future developments planned for North Belfast.
The republican representatives said the meeting, which focused mainly on plans to revitalise the former British Army Barracks Girdwood.
“This was a positive meeting in regards to the future development of North Belfast," said Gerry Kelly.
"One of the key factors in this is the future development of the 26 acre site at the Girdwood.”
Carál Ní Chuilín said Sinn Féin had obtained a commitment from the minister that any services put on the site would be based on objective need.
“Anything along those lines will be delivered on objective need and that includes leisure, social housing, business investments and health,” said Carál.
The Sinn Fein delegation stressed it was important to cut down on ‘red tape’ and get on with the job of delivering services.
“The minister was willing to hear the merits in our argument that one over-arching consultation should be done, so that everyone can feed into the one discussion at the same time,” said Gerry Kelly.
“People are fed up with consultations, they need delivery and people on the ground need to see developments.
“They need to see change and that change is going to be delivered on objective need, and the minister needs to be supported in doing that.
“We need to make sure all the needs of the community are met, no matter how varied they are. Margaret Ritchie is the minister for Social Development and she is the person responsible for making that happen.”
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