Assembly's Communities Committee visits Dungannon

The Assembly’s Committee for Communities today (Thursday 9 May) took its weekly meeting to Dungannon, where Members received a briefing from the First Steps Women’s Centre about its work and remit.

Speaking after today’s meeting the Committee Chairperson Colm Gildernew MLA said: “We were delighted to visit the First Steps Women’s Centre in Dungannon today, where we received a presentation on the great work, services, support and training initiatives that this organisation provides to women in the local community and across Mid Ulster. It was also incredible to hear first-hand testimonies from local women, including those who have come from other places to make their home here and who have benefited greatly from their interactions with the centre”.

Today’s meeting in Dungannon was the first time the Committee for Communities has met outside Parliament Buildings during the current mandate.

Mr. Gildernew Continued: “As well as hearing from the First Steps Women’s Centre, today’s visit was a great opportunity for the Committee to take our weekly meeting into the heart of a local community. It’s important, that we as political representatives and Committee Members take the time to meet with people in their local towns and areas. Talking to local people provides us with greater insight into their very particular needs and the issues they face which in turn helps us to develop and prioritise our future work programme and general Committee focus”.

Mr. Gildernew concluded: “We hope to bring more of our meetings to other locations during this mandate and to continue to work with local communities to highlight and learn more about their initiatives, listen to concerns and provide our support wherever it is needed.”       

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:

Sinead Murphy
Communications Officer
Northern Ireland Assembly

Mobile: 0789 9864 368

Email: Sinead.murphy@niassembly.gov.uk  

Notes to Editor:

• Today’s meeting was held in the First Steps Women’s Centre in Dungannon.
• Further information about the Committee for Communities, its Membership and its work can be found here