To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how her Department will be taking forward the learnings from the Maximising Access to Services, Grants and Benefits in Rural Areas project.

The aim of the Maximising Access to Services, Grants and Benefits in Rural Areas (MARA) Project was “to improve the health and well being of rural dwellers in Northern Ireland by increasing access to services, grants and benefits by facilitating a co-ordinated service to support rural dwellers living in or at risk of poverty and social exclusion”. The MARA Project proactively targeted the most vulnerable households in identified rural communities using a community development approach. The project was subject to continuous review and evaluation which assisted on-going refinement and learning to maximise its impact.