1.
1.1
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Introduction
Through
New Targeting Social Need (New TSN) the Government aims to tackle social
need and social exclusion in Northern Ireland by targeting its efforts
and available resources on people, groups and areas in greatest social
need. New TSN targets social need objectively, wherever it is found, and
does not favour, or discriminate against, any section of the community.
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| 1.2 |
New
TSN was announced in the Partnership for Equality White Paper (Cm 3890),
which was published in March 1998, as part of the Government’s wider agenda
for making Northern Ireland a more fair, just and prosperous society. It
was identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the Government’s key
socio-economic commitments. The then Secretary of State, the Rt Hon Dr Marjorie
Mowlam MP, formally launched New TSN on 28 July 1998. |
| 1.3 |
The
earlier Targeting Social Need policy had been introduced in 1991 with the
intention of redirecting resources in Government programmes towards areas
and people objectively defined as being in greatest social need. Dr Mowlam
had reviewed the policy in the light of the Government’s priorities. In
so doing she considered comments and recommendations on Targeting Social
Need arising from an extensive review of employment equality published by
the Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights (SACHR) in 1997. |
| 1.4 |
The
Partnership for Equality White Paper endorsed Targeting Social Need’s rationale
and general objectives, but concluded that a more vigorous approach was
required. It recommended that the policy needed a stronger focus and that
mechanisms should be put in place to ensure its effectiveness and transparency. |
| 1.5 |
Partnership
for Equality therefore indicated that New TSN would have a particular focus
on combating the problems of unemployment and on increasing employability.
It would also tackle inequalities in other areas such as health, education
and housing and would include Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI), a co-ordinated
approach to tackling the causes of social exclusion. |
| 1.6 |
The
White Paper allocated to the Secretary of State explicit responsibility
for the political direction and oversight of New TSN, with individual Ministers
driving it forward within their respective Departments. Every Northern Ireland
Department and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) would develop an Action
Plan showing how it intended to implement New TSN over a 3 year period. |
| 1.7 |
To ensure transparency
and to enhance public accountability, Departments would consult on their
New TSN Action Plans before adopting them and there would be consultation
about the first issues to be tackled under PSI. Reports arising from PSI
would be published and progress on all aspects of New TSN would be covered
in Annual Reports.
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| 1.8 |
This
first New TSN Annual Report:
- sets
out progress on all aspects of New TSN since publication of Partnership
for Equality
- sets
out draft Action Plans, with challenging objectives, which show how
each Department will implement New TSN over the next three years
- invites
views on the draft Action Plans and explains how these views should
be submitted.
|
| 1.9 |
The
finalised Action Plans will be published. Progress will be reported, and
the Plans updated, in the second New TSN Annual Report which is due in September
2000. |
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