City of Culture year ‘of little benefit’ - UUP
Colin McCusker. INLM0512-162gc
A unionist councillor from Lurgan has questioned the Assembly’s funding of Derry’s City of Culture year.
Ulster Unionist councillor Colin McCusker referred to the City of Culture 2013 as a “massive party” and said the multi million pound funding package would be better spent on infrastructure projects across the north - such as the Millennium Way road project in his own local authority area.
He says the City of Culture year will be of little benefit.
“The estimated cost of the completion for Millennium Way is in the region of £7M, and I have to ask the question, what are the priorities for the DUP and Sinn Fein given that £12.6M has been promised for a massive party while the £7M required to complete Millennium Way is not available?
“What or who will benefit in the long-term from this £12.6M investment? How will the benefits of this massive investment be measured in terms of results?”
“I would challenge all the DUP and Sinn Fein representatives for this area to tell the people of Lurgan what their priorities are when it comes to the distribution of funding in Northern Ireland, and do they agree with me that £12.6M could be better spent on infrastructure projects all over Northern Ireland,” he said.
The £12.6million Stormont culture year funding package was announced earlier this month and was widely welcomed in Derry.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness told the ‘Journal’ the cash injection will ensure events reflect the great enthusiasm of local people and the city’s arts and cultural organisations for the 2013 celebrations.
“The decision of the Executive to commit £12.6 million offers assurances to the Cultural Company that it can organise events with financial confidence and it also gives a boost to major corporate partnerships that this is a joint venture,” he added. Mr McGuinness said that the predicted cost of delivering “a broad suite” of high quality events in 2013 had increased from the original projections made during Derry’s city of culture bid.
He explained: “This is in part due to the enthusiasm of local people and the city’s arts and cultural organisations.
“Many new ideas and events have been submitted to the Culture Company and present an opportunity to help realise Executive objectives to ensure that the North continues to develop as a great place to live and work.
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Weather for Derry
Wednesday 22 May 2013
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