Progressive Unionist Party candidate in East Belfast , Dawn Purvis, has welcomed the launch of an Assembly election manifesto by NIPPA - the Early Years Organisation, which includes a call for an investment of £10m to provide 20 children's centres in the province.
 
“It is clearly unacceptable that whilst there are 3,500 children's centres in Britain , in Northern Ireland there are none.  In the PUP manifesto we have identified the need for social policies that are geared towards equipping families and individuals with the resources to enable them to take control over their lives”.  Additionally the Party is calling for an increase in benefits for lone parents and pensioners and accessible childcare for all those who need it.

The failure of Direct Rule Ministers to address a wide range of Health and Social Service issues means that it is now a matter of urgency that these issues are taken up by local politicians who better understand local communities.  

Additionally to ensure the delivery of public services the PUP has called for the wholesale rejection of the PPP/PFI in the public sector.