To ask the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the impact of the Maximising Access in Rural Areas to Grants, Services and Benefits project on people living in rural areas that are at risk of poverty and social isolation.

I am very pleased with how the MARA Project has been delivered and the impact it has made in all rural areas across the north of Ireland in the past 4 years. To date 15,274 households and over 17,250 individuals have had a holistic assessment in respect of entitlements and availability of various grants, benefits and services undertaken generating 40,000 referrals.

Initial findings from the draft independent evaluation report indicate that: all MARA targets and objectives as set out in the Project Business Case were achieved; nine out of 10 clients had at least one referral (with many clients having multiple referrals); more than half of the clients attained a successful outcome from a referral (55.4%); and, overall client ratings of general health and social connectedness significantly increased as a result of the MARA intervention. These are very significant, positive and hopefully sustainable impacts for those involved in the Project.

I expect to be in a position to share the final evaluation report when available later this Autumn.