TSN Annual Report - Annex 2: Department of Economic Development Draft New TSN Action Plan

The first New TSN Annual Report

November 1999

Annex 2: Department of Economic Development Draft New TSN Action Plan

1

1.1

Departmental Aims and Objectives

The Department of Economic Development’s (DED) vision is to achieve a Northern Ireland economy which provides worthwhile opportunities for everyone. The aim is for an economy characterised by:

high levels of sustainable economic activity and employment
income per head at least equal to the EU average
low unemployment, with a significantly reduced proportion of long-term unemployment.

1.2

In pursuit of this aim two key Departmental objectives have been identified:

to promote employment and investment for sustainable economic growth and the improvement of competitiveness in business and industry
to enhance opportunity and fairness.

1.3

With regard to the second Departmental objective the following results are sought:

effective reconnection of the long-term unemployed to the labour market
a more equal distribution of the benefits of economic growth, through targeting in particular those individuals and areas in greatest need.

2

2.1

Targeting Social Need Action Plans 1995-1998

Over the years DED has developed a range of complementary approaches aimed at tackling need. The 1995 Strategy Document Growing Competitively sharpened the focus by making Targeting Social Need a more integral part of the overall strategy and 3 year Targeting Social Need Action Plans (1995-1998) were set in place by DED’s five economic development agencies: Industrial Development Board (IDB), Training and Employment Agency (T&EA), Local Enterprise Development Unit (LEDU), Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU) and Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB). In its 1997 Report on employment equality "Building for the Future", SACHR welcomed DED’s Action Plans as a model for other Departments.

2.2

There has been significant effort and activity within DED in the implementation of these Targeting Social Need Plans which have been "rolled over" pending the development of New TSN. In implementing the Plans, however, it was recognised that there was a need for the further development of Targeting Social Need within DED to ensure the maximum impact and outcome of efforts and expenditure on those individuals and areas of greatest need – eg the impact of job location and the extent to which such jobs are taken up by disadvantaged individuals or residents of disadvantaged areas.

3

3.1

DED Commitment to New TSN

DED has revised its earlier commitment to Targeting Social Need within Growing Competitively as follows:

"In consultation with the private sector and social partners, DED and its agencies will pursue policies which effectively target individuals in greatest need, particularly the long-term unemployed, and also areas in greatest need, with the effect of reducing community differentials."

3.2

This commitment will be used in future Corporate and Operating Plans across DED.

4

4.1

Unemployment Levels

Unemployment levels in Northern Ireland have largely been on a downward trend for the past 5 years. The seasonally adjusted level of unemployment (using the claimant measure) at September 1999 was 46,900 – or 6.1% of the workforce. However the level of long term unemployment (over twelve months and based on the computerised claimant count) has remained consistently and unacceptably high, with some 37.3% (18,576) of claimant unemployed in Northern Ireland being unemployed for over 1 year compared with 25% in the UK as a whole. The focus of activities must therefore be on developing the environment which will offer greater opportunities for the unemployed, in particular the long-term unemployed, to return to the labour market.

5

5.1

Enhanced Monitoring

While there is already significant monitoring within DED, a further enhancement of monitoring systems is planned to capture additional information on the individuals gaining employment from DED and DED-managed EU programmes. A co-ordinated monitoring system, involving the five economic development agencies and appropriate parts of DED Headquarters is being developed to capture the following data on those gaining employment from new or expansion projects: location of individual (postcode); gender; disability; previous economic activity status (ie employee, self-employed, unemployed, education or economically inactive) and community background.

6

6.1

Targeting

In considering how best to target both efforts and resources, DED has considered carefully its use in its earlier Targeting Social Need Action Plans of the Robson Indicators of multiple deprivation, which were based on the 1991 Census data. While there was a correlation between the Robson index and unemployment levels at that time, there has been a considerable change in the levels and composition of unemployment throughout Northern Ireland since 1991. For example, since 1991 claimant count unemployment has fallen by 43,200 (43%) and long-term unemployment by some 24,000 (almost 50%). The age distribution of claimants has also changed with proportionately fewer younger claimants and more claimants in the 40-55 age bands in 1998 than in 1991.

6.2

Given New TSN’s greater focus on unemployment and the fact that the Robson Indicators will not be able to be updated until after the 2001 Census, DED has decided to use the unemployment claimant count to develop new maps for its geographically-based activity and targeting and monitoring purposes. Some programmes, such as those administered by T&EA in relation to the unemployed, address the needs of target individuals wherever they are located in Northern Ireland. In such cases the maps will be used for monitoring purposes. It is the intention that the maps will last for the duration of the Action Plan but, in using unemployment levels as the basis, there is the flexibility to review the maps, particularly if there are large scale movements in unemployment during the life of the Plan.

6.3

The maps have been derived to coincide with areas (at both ward and District Council level) which exhibit the highest proportions of long-term unemployment. Using the average levels of unemployment during 1998 to smooth out both the seasonal fluctuations in the profile of unemployment and the impact of any labour market "shocks" such as redundancies, long-term unemployed was taken as a proportion of the total claimant count. Ranking the District Councils (from highest to lowest in terms of these proportions) highlighted a "natural break" in the distribution. This cut off point, at over 47% of claimant unemployed in the long-term category, results in 11 District Councils and 195 wards being designated as areas of greatest disadvantage – or "New TSN areas". The main focus of DED's geographical targeting activity will be at Council level with the ward maps providing greater detail for monitoring purposes. The proposed Council and ward maps are shown overleaf.

DED New TSN: District Council Map

DED New TSN: Ward Map

Wards in Northern Ireland with 47% or more of claimants long term unemployed (ie unemployed for one year or more)

District Council Area	Ward
ANTRIM	Cranfield
ARDS	Ballywalter
ARMAGH	Callan Bridge Carrigatuke Derrynoose Downs Keady Killeen Killylea Loughgall Observatory
BALLYMENA	Craigywarren
BALLYMONEY	Ballyhoe & Corkey Benvardin Carnany Clogh Mills Dunloy Killoquin Upper Stranocum The Vow
BELFAST	Andersonstown Ardoyne Ballymacarrett Beechmount Clonard Duncairn Falls Falls Park Glen Road Glencolin Island Legoniel New Lodge Shaftesbury The Mount Upper Springfield Water Works Whiterock
CARRICKFERGUS	Sunnylands
CASTLEREAGH	Enler Graham's Bridge
COLERAINE	Agivey Atlantic Churchland Dunluce Garvagh Kilrea Knockantern Macosquin
COOKSTOWN	Ardboe Coagh Dunnamore Killycolpy Oaklands Pomeroy Stewartstown
CRAIGAVON	Ballyoran Corcrain Court Drumgask Taghnevan The Birches Tullygally
DERRY	Banagher Beechwood Brandywell Carn Hill Caw Claudy Corrody Creggan Central Creggan South Crevagh & Springtown Culmore Ebrington Eglinton Enagh Faughan Glen Rosemount St Peter's Shantallow East Shantallow West Strand The Diamond Victoria Westland
DOWN	Dundrum Flying Horse Tollymore
DUNGANNON	Altmore Ballygawley Ballysaggart Caledon Castlecaulfield Clogher Coalisland North Coalisland South Fivemiletown Killyman Mullaghmore Washing Bay
FERMANAGH	Belcoo & Garrison Belleek & Boa Boho, Cleenish & Letterbeen Brookeborough Derrygonnelly Derrylin Donagh Ederny & Lack Florence Court & Kinawley Irvinestown Lisnaskea Maguires Bridge Newtownbutler Rosslea Tempo
LIMAVADY	Binevenagh Feeny Glack Gresteel Magilligan The Highlands
LISBURN	Collin Glen Derryaghy Lambeg Twinbrook
MAGHERAFELT	Ballymaguigan Bellaghy Castledawson Draperstown Gulladuff Lower Glenshane Maghera Swatragh Upperlands Valley
MOYLE	Armoy Ballylough Bushmills Carnmoon Dunseverick Glendun Glenshesk Kinbane Moss-side & Moyarget
NEWRY& MOURNE	Annalong Ballybot Ballycrossan Beesbrook Camlough Creggan Crossmaglen Derrymore Drumgullion Fathom Forkhill Lisnascree Mayobridge Newtownhamilton Rostrevor St Mary's St Patrick's
NEWRY & MOURNE	Silver Bridge Spelga Tullyhappy
NEWTOWNABBEY	Ballyclare North
NORTH DOWN	Whitehill
OMAGH	Beragh Clanabogan Dergmoney Dromore Drumnakilly Drumquin Fairy Water Fintona Gortrush Killyclogher Lisanelly Newtownsaville Owenkillew Sixmilecross Termon Trillick
STRABANE	Artigarvan Castlederg Clare Dunnamanagh Finn Glenderg Newtownstewart Plumbridge Sion Mills Slievekirk Victoria Bridge

6.4

IDB will continue with its policy of offering enhanced levels of assistance to companies locating in these designated Council areas. In addition, there is a high concentration of New TSN wards within the Armagh City and District Council and Belfast City Council areas which account for more than 50% of the long-term unemployed for the Council area. IDB will have the flexibility to treat these areas as exceptional cases for enhanced levels of assistance. For Belfast City Council area alone, projects locating immediately adjacent to wards designated for New TSN purposes (including the IDB site at Springbank, which is located in the Poleglass area but situated within the Lisburn Borough Council Area) will be eligible for enhanced rates of support. One of the key criteria for enhanced assistance to all areas designated for New TSN purposes will be a commitment by companies to work with IDB and T&EA to maximise the employment opportunities for the long-term unemployed. As part of its enhanced monitoring, IDB will, as noted above, track the location of people employed by such projects.