Ruane Explores Ways To Improve Economy

Ruane Welcomes Small Business Relief Scheme.

Sinn Féin South Down MLA Caitriona Ruane is exploring options for improving the local economy.

Sinn Féin MLA Caitríona Ruane has said that the Small Business Relief Scheme can be the catalyst for small and medium indigenous businesses to develop the economy in South Down.

Ms Ruane added, “I welcome the inclusion in the new Programme for Government of the Small Business Relief Scheme that will allow small and medium businesses to access money to develop their businesses.

“At present we are going through a severe economic downturn and the banks are not giving small and medium businesses the support needed in order to expand or to even survive through this period.

“The Executive has now guaranteed £50 million that will allow the SME’s to access support funding and grow their businesses.

“Small and medium businesses are the lifeline of creating employment in local areas so it is crucial that they are given the proper support to expand. By supporting these small and medium indigenous businesses we can regenerate entire areas that have been decimated by the economic downturn.

“I will be working with the local Chamber of Commerce in the weeks and months ahead in order to ensure that the small and medium businesses in the South Down area maximise the potential of this initiative.

PFG Should Lever Builders Back To Work Says Ruane

South Down MLA Willie Clarke accompanied Caitríona Ruane on her meeting with the construction industry.

South Down Sinn Féin MLA’s Willie Clarke and Caitríona Ruane also met with the construction industry, a key part of the local economy.

“We had a very positive meeting today with the Construction Employers federation and discussed how we can implement the Programme for Government (PFG) initiatives in order to get builders back into work,” said Ms Ruane.

“In order to reverse the economic decline in the industry we need to generate infrastructural renewal and commence a building programme that will allow local construction companies to flourish.

“Some of the topics that we raised were the inclusion of social clauses in the PFG that will allow local companies to gain contracts for governmental contracts and will allow locally unemployed people to gain meaningful employment.

“We also raised the social home building scheme and the initiative to replace all Housing Executive properties with double glazing in the next few years.

“There is also now a fund designed to allow small and medium business to access money that will allow their businesses to grow. It is important that local businesses know how to access these funds.

“The construction industry is often seen as a benchmark of economic confidence in local areas and when it is flourishing there is an offshoot to the entire economic community.

‘Sinn Féin will continue to meet with the local Construction Federation to ensure that they can maximise the potential of the Programme for Government to get the industry back to work.”