approach to the promotion of New TSN is one of mainstreaming - the aim is to facilitate total integration of New TSN into the policy and programme
development of all departments.
7.8 One way in which a policy might be designed in order to promote New TSN
might be to give priority to areas experiencing multiple deprivation or to phase rollout of a policy giving priority to the most disadvantaged areas first. The NISRA
paper Measures of Deprivation in Northern Ireland July 2001 sets out a range of indicators of deprivation at ward level often referred to as the Noble indicators,
including a Multiple Deprivation Measure. These can help in identifying areas where resources need to be targeted. It is important to use an appropriate
measure - the Multiple Deprivation Measure covers a range of types of need, not all of which might be relevant if a policy is only concerned with one group such
as, for example, children. In some cases, your department may have more specific information available to help identify need in your own context or at a
more detailed level than ward level - for example, levels of entitlement to Free School Meals at school level.
7.9
It is unlikely to be sufficient, however, simply to prioritise provision purely on the basis of indicators of social need. This usually needs to be combined with some
form of audit of existing provision, and of needdemand in terms purely of the policy area itself. So for example, prioritisation of new public transport provision
might be based on a combination of indicators at local level, including: social need; levels of car ownership; demand for travel; traffic congestionresulting time
savings; and adequacy and quality of existing provision. At the very least, social need should always be a tie-breaker if the merits of two competing proposals
are otherwise equal.
7.10
It is essential that there is a statement in all papers to the Executive making it clear how New TSN is being addressed, and setting out:
• confirmation that the proposed policy has been examined to determine
the extent to which New TSN applies;
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• an explanation of how efforts and available
resources will be targeted to ensure the delivery of New TSN objectives; or
• a statement that it is the Ministers view
that New TSN does not apply to the policy and a brief explanation as to the reasoning
behind this view.
7.11 The Executives New TSN Policy together with
