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Both Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Newry Chamber of Commerce have welcomed 'clarification' and 'confirmation' in relation to the British Governments commitment to the Belfast Region City Deal but what exactly has been clarified or confirmed hasn't been indicated.
At Stormont Assembly business yesterday Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald seems to have indicated that the Belfast Region City Deal which was 'paused' on Friday is now back on track but the wording after the Friday 13 September statement from Government saying that the Northern Ireland City Deals have been paused, doesn't really indicate anything and it certainly doesn't give any details of what happened or what if anything has changed!
Minister Archibald said "The Secretary of State also confirmed, late last night, that, following communication with Treasury, nothing has changed on the status of the Belfast region city deal."
Welcomes Clarification
In a statement Newry, Mourne and Down District Council said "Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, as a partner of the Belfast Region City Deal welcomes the clarification received today, Monday September 16, 2024, from the Department of Finance, following communication between the NI Secretary of State and HM Treasury in relation to the continued commitment to the Belfast Region City Deal, signed in December 2021. The partners also welcome the statement from the Finance Minister to the Northern Ireland Assembly, delivered this afternoon."
The statement added "The Belfast Region City Deal – the result of a strong and established partnership – is now well into delivery phase, with 15 Outline Business Cases approved, 12 legally executed Contracts for Funding signed totalling approximately £600m, 15 ICT contracts awarded, two projects in construction and a number of projects already in operation. It is a delivery vehicle which is clearly fit for purpose."
Projects secured
Newry Chamber of Commerce & Trade in a statement today also welcomed "confirmation that City Deal funding for the city and district has been secured."
The statement continued "Speaking after a meeting with Newry, Mourne and Down District Council Chief Executive, Marie Ward and Director of Economic Development, Conor Mallon on Monday afternoon, Chamber President Edwina Flynn said "The Chamber met with Council Senior Management and have been assured that the Belfast Region City Deal (BRCD) funding for the Newry, Mourne and Down projects has been secured.
"When the announcement was made by the UK Government on Friday evening the Chamber sought immediate clarification given that we were aware that the BRCD was already at an advanced stage with contracts awarded and 'pausing' it did not make economic sense. Thankfully, we have received clarity and the deals that underpin the economic regeneration of our city and wider district continue at pace.”
The statement continues "We have written to the Secretary of State and will meet with him soon to express our disappointment at how this was handled and we will work to ensure any short-term damage in investor confidence is repaired.”
"Newry Chamber now firmly believes that we need to get on with delivering all the regeneration schemes across the city and district including the vital Southern Relief Road and the Council-backed Newry Regeneration Schemes.”
“It is abundantly clear that money is scarce in the UK Treasury and will be for some years to come, so it is imperative that we get on with maximising the opportunity that has been presented to Greater Newry and transform our city."
