To ask the Minister of Justice for an update on the work of the Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime.

The Executive Programme on Paramilitarism and Organised Crime, for which I am lead Minister, brings together departments, statutory agencies and community partners to deliver a public health, wholesystem approach to tackling paramilitarism.

The Programme invests in over 100 evidencebased interventions to address paramilitary harm across Northern Ireland. It brings together robust law enforcement, support for individuals and communities and; early intervention to support young people at risk of exploitation.

Alongside this, public awareness campaigns such as Ending the Harm have played an important role in exposing coercive control, challenging paramilitary influence, and encouraging people to come forward for help.

This multi-disciplinary, cross-departmental approach has seen tangible outcomes: paramilitary violence and intimidation have reduced, and tens of thousands of people have received support within their communities. The Programme has also improved collaboration on this issue across the system as well as supporting new responses to child criminal exploitation and putting in place credible pathways for those engaged, or at risk of engagement in gang violence.

The Programme Team has been analysing the lessons learned from the decade of delivery as well as engaging widely with stakeholders in order to develop options for the Executive’s approach to tackling paramilitarism when the current Programme’s mandate comes to an end in March 2027.

This must build on the progress that has already been made to protect people, strengthen communities, and prevent future generations from being drawn into paramilitary activity.