To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on her plans to implement the previous Executive’s economic inactivity strategy.

The previous Executive’s strategy for addressing the high economic inactivity rate entitled ‘Enabling Success’ was a joint strategy between the former Department for Economy, Trade and Investment and the former Department for Employment and Learning.

The ‘Enabling Success’ strategy is no longer active, however some of the principles contained within the strategy around addressing economic inactivity holds relevance as the economic inactivity rate remains high.

My Department is targeting our resources to ensure that, in line with the draft Programme for Government Outcomes framework, the Economic Strategy and the draft Social Strategy, we engage with those furthest from work and in those areas with the lowest employment rates with the aim of closing those gaps.

Employability NI was established in November 2018 and will design, procure and implement the future employment offer developed by the Department for Communities to support people into employment. The Employability NI framework of support aims to transform the delivery of employability provision by responding in an agile manner to local labour market challenges.