The areas in which we all choose to live and work should be attractive and safe - fostering mental and physical wellbeing, creativity and diversity, and tackling disadvantage. Capital investment helps to shape and improve our public spaces and places ensuring that social and affordable housing is available to those who need it most and that there is opportunity for everyone to contribute to a cohesive, peaceful and productive society.

•  Regeneration of towns and cities creates economic vitality flowing from re-energised urban centres to deprived neighbourhoods, resulting in improved quality of life for the most disadvantaged. The development of primarily retail led regeneration schemes in town and city centres boosts the economy by creating significant construction jobs in the short term, new jobs directly in the scheme in the longer term and indirectly through enhancing the attractiveness of Northern Ireland for Foreign Direct Investment. In support of these major schemes and to stimulate other private sector investment there is also our investment in high quality public realm including new shared community spaces.

•  Outside of the centres, our initiatives consolidate and support efforts to tackle disadvantage and help create confident communities that are able and committed to improving the quality of life in the most deprived neighbourhoods, developing local economic activity and connecting neighbourhoods to the wider economy. Investment improves community facilities and creates safer, attractive and sustainable environments.

•  Investment to help individuals and families in housing stress will continue to be important as will investment to address fuel poverty. Continued investment also ensures we are available to help individuals and families with the cost of disabled adaptations and repairs to their homes.

•  Co-location of previously separate benefit delivery and job assistance services in a single 'Jobs & Benefits Office' is a leading example of how services can be re-engineered to improve customer experience and generate cost efficiencies. The new service model allows the Executive to provide more than just financial support to those who are affected by the current downturn in the labour market.

•  Investment in culture, arts and leisure makes significant and material contributions to key pillars of the Programme for Government, in particular the economy including cultural tourism and local economic development, health, education and social inclusion. Investing in our cultural assets, our museums and theatres, helps to create a strong sense of place and belonging, affirming our identity and making Northern Ireland a welcoming and interesting place to visit. In addition, investment in the libraries estate makes an important contribution to education and lifelong learning. Investing in smaller arts projects is equally important, as they reach deep into our communities, promoting community wellbeing and mental health and have a positive effect on the young and the old alike. Similarly, support for initiatives that encourage and engage young people in healthy activities helps forge the link between physical and mental wellbeing and the formation of lifelong habits. These in turn make vital contributions to preventative healthcare and can result in savings in health provision in the longer term.