https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ydy1jnl4wo
The UK government's decision to pause work on City Deals in Northern Ireland has been described as "unacceptable and deplorable" by First Minister Michelle O'Neill.
The deals are bespoke packages of funding and decision-making powers negotiated between central government and local authorities and are worth more than £1bn.
The implications of the pause are not yet clear, but it puts a range of planned regeneration projects across Northern Ireland in doubt.
Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly warned of "dire consequences" if the funding was paused; she joined the first minister in calling on the government to reconsider the decision.
'Dire consequences'
There are four deals in Northern Ireland: the Belfast City region, Derry City and Strabane, Mid South West region, and Causeway Coast and Glens.
O'Neill called the UK government's approach "extremely short-sighted" and urged ministers to reconsider.
"These City and Growth Deals will be game-changers for the regeneration of our cities and towns and a catalyst for economic growth and creating good jobs," she said.
"It’s crucial that they continue as planned."
Little-Pengelly said Stormont officials "were informed of this potential direction of travel on Wednesday".
"We raised this during a meeting with the Chancellor in London on Thursday, spelling out the dire consequences such a decision would have and urged for a reconsideration," she said.
The total value of the deals is more than £1bn with most of the money coming from the UK government.
A view of Londonderry with the Peace Bridge over the Foyle river in the foreground and the Guildhall and other building in the background.
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
The finance minister said Derry City and Strabane's city deal was due to be signed
'Significant cost to local councils'
Stormont's Finance Minister, Caoimhe Archibald, said she has written to the Treasury "calling on them to immediately reverse this reprehensible decision".
She pointed out that it has come "less than a week before the scheduled signing of the Derry City and Strabane Deal".
“The British government have said it’s attempting to reset relationships; instead, they have acted in very bad faith," Archibald added.
“I am calling on them to step up and honour the commitments and pledges made on City Deals, where significant plans and contracts have already been put in place at significant cost to local councils, project promoters, the Civil Service, and Whitehall Departments.”
Funding earmarked for medical school
A portion of the money expected from the unsigned Derry City and Strabane deal had been earmarked to help fund the medical school in Derry.
The Belfast deal is not just limited to the city but is funding projects stretching from the north of County Antrim down to County Armagh.
It was also the most far advanced in terms of the progress of construction on capital projects.
Work began in the summer on building an Advanced Manufacturing Innovation Centre (AMIC) at the Global Point business park in Newtownabbey.
by BelfastTelegraph
13 comments
https://preview.redd.it/ahe8lt7splod1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=500474ff42b05cd1eb7c780fbf293ac40c57e825
This is the transport schemes that were meant to be funded by that money, never mind all the other things too
Days after they find out Ireland must collect an extra $13 billion in unpaid tax from Apple? Maybe they have decided to shake that money tree instead. 😂
Labour austerity is going to be more painful than Tory austerity. Seems short sighted. What happened to prioritising growth?
That one Labour supporter on here who said they’d be the ones to open the money taps and “how fast things will change” must be reeling lol.
Austerity just with a red tie.
Lot of people did not see this coming. Projects that have been in development for years, if not decades. I don’t believe they are paused either, as far as I’m concerned anything within those deals is now cancelled.
Another nail in the coffin for Northern Ireland. Labour are pathetic.
More proof that unionism is a delusional, lost cause. We don’t vote for the two main parties so we are useless to them.
A United Ireland would be beneficial to everyone here.
Have any of these deals been signed and sealed?
I expected this but still sad to see it. UK finances are utterly fucked by torie corruption, incompetence, brexit (you name it).
Utter disaster in the making and very hard choices are going to be made (lose-lose basically).
Hey, we’re all in it together, right?
When will people understand that British political parties do not care about Northern Ireland?
Goes to show just how money the UK was spending via borrowing. There is no money left. Conservatives, usually the party of austerity have fucked the country.
Casement park is the priority
Perfidious Albion.
We are still paying for the shit show Boris did with Brexit and things are probably yet to come up. Imagine a double yammy with the unthought of consequences of a U.I.