Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens urges Ministers to reverse ‘pause’ decision on Growth Deal funding
Wed, October 02, 2024
The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens has written to both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and the Chief Secretary of the Treasury urging an urgent reversal of their recent decision to ‘pause’ £36 million of UK Government Growth Deal funding announced in April this year.
The funding would have contributed to the delivery of 9 key projects across the Borough and the announcement that this allocated funding from the UK Government is now ‘paused’, has sent shockwaves across the Borough.
The Mayor, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan joined with Council delegates in Stormont last week alongside representatives from Mid South West Growth Deal, who have also seen their funding ‘paused’. The group met with Finance Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald and Executive Ministers from across the political divide to discuss the issue. Despite outcries over the decision the funding remains ‘paused’ with the Mayor saying: “The pausing of the Growth Deal funding is a matter that needs to be addressed very urgently.
“I have therefore written to the Secretary of State and the Treasury seeking an urgent meeting alongside my fellow cross-party Elected Members. I remain hopeful that as the funding for both the Belfast and Derry Growth Deals was reinstated within days of the initial announcement, that Ministers will respond positively to our requests for reversal of this shocking decision.”
The Head of Terms agreement which was signed in April 2024, would have contributed to the delivery of projects totalling almost £100 million, the Mayor added: “The anticipated Growth Deal funding of £36m from the UK Government and the same from the NI Executive, alongside other partner contributions, was set to shape the future trajectory of the region and we are very disappointed with this unexpected u turn.”
“Based on the commitments from the UK Government, Council has invested over £1m of ratepayers funding to get to the stage where the Government signed the Heads of Terms agreement in April 2024.
“The Growth Deal offers exactly what our communities need: good jobs, economic regeneration, and hope for the future. In places like Bushmills, Dungiven, and Cushendall, the planned investments will create opportunities for further development and revitalization. We can reverse the regional imbalance that has held us back for so long, ensuring that our area isn’t left behind as other parts of the island surge ahead.
“And it’s not just about our towns and villages. The development of a drug discovery unit in Coleraine, for example, promises to have significant benefits, not only for our local economy but for the entire healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors. This investment will create high-quality jobs, attract further research and development opportunities, and put our region on the map as a leader in medical innovation.
“We are optimistic that Ministers will respond swiftly to our request for an urgent meeting, so we are able to make a case for the reinstatement of our Growth Deal.”
