A programme of measures worth £7.4 million was launched yesterday to tackle disadvantage in working-class communities across Northern Ireland.
A Minister in the Northern Ireland Office, Mr Des Browne, said the measures were targeted at improving health, education and physical and community regeneration, and to improve poor public services.
"A major obstacle to building trust and confidence is the involvement of our young people in street violence," he said.
"I want to use successful experiences from last year to catch their imagination and interest and provide them with alternatives to street violence.
"The allocation of an additional £500,000 this year will allow the education and library boards across Northern Ireland to provide, in conjunction with local communities, significantly enhanced youth intervention programmes."
Mr Browne said local communities must be given the opportunity to develop a local voice and leadership potential.
"The £3 million Local Community Fund, which will be spent on the ground this year, will have a significant impact in this area," he said.
"The investment of a further £2.6 million over the next three years through the Department for Social Development's continuing Outreach Programme will allow 14 individual projects across the province to test new approaches to meeting community need through health, education, community regeneration and the delivery of public services in partnership with the local communities."
Mr Browne said it was important that people in the most disadvantaged urban communities continue to have access to the vital services provided by post offices.
"Potentially up to £750,000 will be needed over the next three years to modernise post offices in urban deprived areas, and to provide additional security measures and improve access for people with disabilities," the Minister said.
- (PA)