Archived News

17/06/09 - Ritchie secures temporary accommodation for threatened Romanians
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie arranged to re-house the threatened Romanian families immediately in temporary accommodation.

16/06/09 - Minister Ritchie gives support to Enniskillen Neighbourhood Renewal
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA announced almost £21,000 to upgrade a riverside path and disused play area in Enniskillen.

16/06/09 - 2009/10 Supplement to the Corporate Plan published
The second Supplement to the 2008-11 Corporate Plan has now been published. It lists the Department's targets and milestones for 2009/10.

15/06/09 - Ritchie announces record funding in the North West
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced that Neighbourhood Renewal funding for organisations in the North West has topped £5.2million in the past year.

12/06/09 - Ritchie opens first social housing scheme in Mayobridge for thirteen years
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA, handed over keys to residents in the new £1.4million housing scheme in Mayobridge.

12/06/09 - Ritchie launches first ever comprehensive overhaul of private rented sector in Northern Ireland
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has launched, for consultation, a new strategy to overhaul the private rented housing sector in Northern Ireland.

11/06/09 - Latest funding of £10,000 for Coleraine announced by Minister Ritchie
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA announced a contribution towards the Local Intervention Fire Education (LIFE) Scheme for young people living in Coleraine.

11/06/09 - Ritchie announces funding for young people in Dungannon
Minister Margaret Ritchiec announced a funding boost of nearly £50,000 for a range of education projects in Dungannon.

11/06/09 - Ritchie announces funding for young people in Coalisland
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of over £75,000 for the Coalisland area.

11/06/09 - Minister Ritchie opens Rathcoole Community Conference
Margaret Ritchie said that the government's Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy is making a difference to the lives of people living in disadvantaged areas.

10/06/09 - Bangor consultation launch
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie today launched a public consultation exercise on proposals for a new £100million mixed use development for Bangor’s Waterfront.

08/06/09 - Ritchie welcomes improvement work in Armagh
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie welcomed the completion of a number of physical improvement projects in Armagh.

08/06/09 - Ritchie launches new £8million housing scheme in Lisburn
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie officially cut the first sod to launch a new housing scheme at Seymour Street, Lisburn.

08/06/09 - Building houses best way to counter economic downturn says leading economist
Leading University of Ulster economist Mike Smyth has produced significant evidence that investing in social house building can make a major contribution to boosting the economy.

05/06/09 - Ritchie concerned by Orange Hall destroyed by fire in Darkley
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie has condemned the burning of an Orange Hall at Darkley in South Armagh.

03/06/09 - Ritchie announces funding boost for Dungannon Youth Centre
Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of over £10,000 for Dungannon Youth and Resource Centre.

03/06/09 - Ritchie announces funding for Dungannon West Renewal LTD
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of over £4,500 from her Department’s Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for Dungannon.

03/06/09 - Ritchie announces funding for community house in Dungannon
Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of over £5,500 for the Loughview Community House in Dungannon.

03/06/09 - Ritchie praises Home-Start volunteers
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie praised Home-Start volunteers from across Northern Ireland.

01/06/09 - Ritchie announces first ever Charities Commission for Northern Ireland
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie unveiled the first ever Charities Commission in Northern Ireland.

31/05/09 - Ritchie launches Volunteer’s Week in Northern Ireland
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie launched Volunteer’s Week in Northern Ireland.

28/05/09 - Ritchie pledges £150,000 to extend 'Restore' initiative for Belfast
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, announced the extension of the recently launched ’reStore’ initiative to the Smithfield and Library Quarter area.

28/05/09 - Ritchie announces way forward for regenerating the Northside of Belfast City Centre
A major regeneration implementation plan will breathe new life into the Northside of Belfast City Centre.

28/05/09 - Ritchie opens 'leading edge' dementia housing scheme
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA, today opened a new £1.3million housing scheme in Lisburn, for people suffering from dementia.

27/05/09 - Ritchie brings sporting boost to Armagh
Margaret Ritchie officially opened a new £275,000 playing field at Cathedral Road, Armagh.

27/05/09 - Ritchie launches blueprint for transformation of Armagh City
A blueprint for the future development of the historic Cathedral city of Armagh was officially launched by Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie.

26/05/09 - Ritchie gives support to allotment scheme in Enniskillen
Margaret Ritchie announced almost £19,000 to re-launch a community allotment scheme in Kilmacormick, Enniskillen.

26/05/09 - Ritchie gives support to volunteering in Enniskillen
Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of almost £17,000 for a volunteering project in Enniskillen.

26/05/09 - Ritchie announces funding for children's sensory garden in Omagh
Social Development, Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of over £31,000 from her Department's Neighbourhood Renewal Fund for Omagh.

22/05/09 - Minister Ritchie announces anti grafitti measures in Dungannon
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced funding of £15,000 to repaint walls in Fairmount Park with anti graffiti paint.

22/05/09 - Ritchie’s funding boost for cancer patients in Coalisland
Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of £22,845.00 for Coalisland’s Lilac Centre to support cancer patients and their families.

22/05/09 - Ballynahinch fire victims return home
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie visited Loughside Drive in Ballynahinch to welcome back residents returning to their homes after a major fire last October.

20/05/09 - Ritchie marks the planting of 200 trees in West Belfast
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie planted the last tree to mark the completion of works to help regenerate the Greater Falls area of West Belfast.

20/05/09 - Ritchie visits Parkside
Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie met residents during a visit to Parkside in North Belfast.

20/05/09 - Ritchie helps homeowners in mortgage debt
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie launched a mortgage advice and debt service for Northern Ireland.

19/05/09 - £2,500 helps Girls’ Model pupils to ‘rock’
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie has provided support to the Belfast Model School for Girls’ to help participate in the Northern final of ‘Rock Challenge

14/05/09 - Education in Craigavon gets £0.5 million boost - Ritchie
Margaret Ritchie announced a further funding boost of £500,000 for education programmes in deprived areas of Craigavon.

14/05/09 - Ritchie announces over £800,000 for Brownlow economic stimulation
Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie announced funding of £816,000 for nine new business units at Bluestone Business Park.

14/05/09 - Ritchie opens £850,000 multi-use games area in Lisburn
Minister for Social Development Margaret Ritchie officially opened a new multi-use games area at Lagmore in the Colin area of West Belfast.

14/05/09 - Ritchie joins tenants in celebrating Silver Surfers Day
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie joined tenants in North Belfast to help celebrate Silver Surfers Day 2009.

13/05/09 - Ritchie announces action on ‘Glen 10’ lands development
Research aimed at boosting the development of extensive lands at the Glen Road in West Belfast (the ‘Glen 10’) was announced by Margaret Ritchie.

13/05/09 - Ritchie pledges continued support for the people of Derry’s Fountain Area
Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie promised to continue working with the community towards a better future for residents of the Fountain estate.

11/05/09 - Ritchie encourages support for the Belfast Children’s Festival
Minister Margaret Ritchie got a taste of what’s to come in the Belfast Children’s Festival, a 10 day fun-filled event for all the family

08/05/09 - European Town Twinning conference opens in Downpatrick
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie officially opened the ‘Town Twinning for Everyone’ Conference at the St Patrick Centre.

06/05/09 - Ritchie opens new housing scheme for Muckamore patients
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie celebrated the opening of a new housing scheme in Lisburn for patients of Muckamore Abbey Hospital.

06/05/09 - New £700,000 Business Centre opens in Lisburn
Minister Margaret Ritchie officially opened the new Cloona Business Centre in the City of Lisburn.

06/05/09 - Ritchie launches £5million ‘Safe and Secure’ housing scheme in Newtownbreda
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie officially cut the first sod to launch a new housing scheme at Breda Park, Newtownbreda.

05/05/09 -Ritchie launches new homes in West Belfast
DSD Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA cuts the first sod at St Gall's housing site.

03/05/09 - Ritchie supports modern facilities at Pearse Og GFC
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie today helped open the new community suite and dressing room complex at Pearse Og Gaelic Football Club (GFC) in Armagh.

01/05/09 - Ritchie - more housing sites needed in Downpatrick
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie visited Downpatrick to see at first hand potential sites for social housing.

30/04/09 - Margaret Ritchie welcomes substance of CTI judgement
However, she welcomes the fact that on the main substantive points her decision was sound.

30/04/09 - Ballycastle and Lammas Fair to be given a boost - Ritchie
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a strategy for the regeneration and development of Ballycastle over the next ten to fifteen years.

29/04/09 - Minister Ritchie praises ‘Adopt a School’ Scheme in Ballymena
Minister Margaret Ritchie visited Ballee Community High School to view progress on the work between the school and Business in the Community.

29/04/09 - Ritchie addresses joint forum on the impact of recession
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie addressed a meeting of the Joint Government and Voluntary and Community Sector Forum.

29/04/09 - Ritchie launches new Housing Association
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie MLA, will today launch Northern Ireland’s newest housing association at Malone House in Belfast.

28/04/09 - Minister Ritchie opens Richview Regeneration Centre, Belfast
A new £1.26million regeneration centre was today declared officially open at Belfast’s Donegall Road.

27/04/09 - Minister Ritchie approves £3.2million for remedial works at Fort George site, Derry
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced funding of £3.2million to facilitate a specific programme of remedial and infrastructure works at Fort George.

27/04/09 - Ritchie funds £700,000 for road improvements in Strabane
Margaret Ritchie announced that the Strabane area has benefited from an additional £700,000 funding boost for roads service projects

27/04/09 - Ritchie funds £0.5million for road improvements in Derry
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced that the Derry area has benefited from an additional £495,000 funding boost for roads service projects.

24/04/09 - Craigavon gets £140,000 funding boost
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie announced a funding boost of over £140,000 for the Brownlow area of Craigavon.

24/04/09 - Ritchie announces funding boost for women’s educational project in Bangor
The Minister for Social Development, Margaret Ritchie MLA, announced a funding boost of over £115,000 for Kilcooley Women’s Education and Development Group in Bangor.

24/04/09 - Ritchie announces funding boost for education in Craigavon
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA announced a funding boost of £322,000 for a range of education projects in Craigavon.

23/04/09 - Ritchie boosts tourism prospects at River Lagan
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie unveiled a new tourism trail at the River Lagan.

23/04/09 - Ritchie provides £330,000 to support volunteers
Social Development Minster Margaret Ritchie announced funding of £330,000 to be made available as small grants to support volunteers in small local organisations.

22/04/09 - Minister Ritchie launches new blueprint for Ballymena
Margaret Ritchie, Minister for Social Development, visited Ballymena to announce the publication of the Ballymena town centre Masterplan.

21/04/09 - Ritchie announces the introduction of a Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme in Northern Ireland
Margaret Ritchie has welcomed the announcement by HM Treasury to the introduction of a UK wide Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme.

21/04/09 - Ritchie visits Cancer Charity
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie visited ‘Cancer Lifeline’ in North Belfast following a recent funding boost from her Department.

20/04/09 - Ritchie outlines service improvement...
Plans to improve service in Social Scurity Agency - Customer comes First

20/04/09 - Confiscation order against Bangor man
Over £20,000 to be confiscated from a Bangor man following his conviction last year of benefit fraud.

16/04/09 - Enterprising Britain Awards - search for most enterprising place in Northern Ireland
The search is on to find the ‘most enterprising place in Northern Ireland’. The competition is free to enter and closes 30th April 2009

15/04/09 - Public realm scheme starts for Burn Road Cookstown
Margaret Ritchie has announced the start of a new half million pound public realm scheme for Cookstown.

08/04/09 - Ritchie secures funding for North West employment projects
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie announced match funding for five organisations in Derry to secure much needed employment in the area.

08/04/09 - Ritchie visits regeneration projects in Derry
Social Development Minister Margaret Ritchie MLA visited a number of regeneration projects in Derry.

08/04/09 - Another successful month for CMED
March has been another successful month for the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division in their efforts to secure long overdue maintenance payments for children.

06/04/09 - Minister Ritchie agrees new arrangements for family support services
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie announced her Department’s intentions to pilot a new way of delivering community based family support services.

06/04/09 - Minister Ritchie praises Suffolk Group for their cross community role
Margaret Ritchie has paid tribute to the Suffolk Lenadoon Interface Group (SLIG) for their role in helping to prevent a sectarian hotspot from developing in the area.

03/04/09 - Household Fuel Payments to be made - Ritchie
The Department for Social Development (DSD) will make Household Fuel Payments week commencing 6 April 2009.

03/04/09 - Ritchie launches best practice manual for Voluntary and Community groups
The Department for Social Development has launched a Community Capacity Building Manual for Northern Ireland.

01/04/09 - Ritchie unveils new £7million streetscape for Belfast
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie unveiled the designs for the £7million streetscape renewal of Donegall Place and Castle Place.

01/04/09 - Connswater Community Greenway a winner
Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie has congratulated Connswater Community Greenway on receiving a prestigious Waterways Renaissance Award.

01/04/09 - £2,500 helps Ballee High School in “Rock Challenge”
Margaret Ritchie the Social Development Minister has confirmed funding to help Ballymena schoolchildren’s drama production.