Stormont budget has money for IRA Shrine, but nothing to build new factories
17 January 2011
Statement by TUV Leader Jim Allister:-
“The small print of the Stormont budget contains many shockers, but none more so than the revelation that the Office of the Joint First Ministers has ring-fenced enough money to deliver the Shrine at the Maze by building the ‘Conflict Transformation Centre’, but DETI can’t find any money to build a single new factory!
“Though capital budgets have been slashed in departments providing roads, schools, hospitals and factories, OFMDFM is largely immune. Its current level of capital spend is to be preserved over the 4 year term, with the prime beneficiary being the Maze Shrine site. ( see pages 3 & 4 of http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/ofmdfm-spendingplan-2011-2015.doc) . Initially there will be a drop but in year 4, when the main expenditure at the Maze is anticipated there will be a whopping 190% increase in capital spend.
“Meanwhile, DETI, charged with economic development, faces a massive 64% cut in its capital budget and confesses in its budget statement that it won’t have any money for new industrial development over the next 4 years. (See http://www.detini.gov.uk/2804_3_-2.doc where it expressly says, “Invest NI would not now be able to pursue the purchase and development of any new land for industrial development purposes over and above that which is currently in train.”)
“The fact that money can be found for the Provo Project at the Maze, but no money will be available for new industrial development projects across Northern Ireland, is a shocking indictment of Stormont and the priorities of its DUP/Sinn Fein coalition.
“I find this quite staggering and I believe most right thinking people will be equally appalled.”
