Reilly calls for ‘business empowerment zone’ for Derry
A former Mayor of Derry has called on the Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir to introduce a pilot “business empowerment zone” in the city.
Cllr Martin Reilly, the SDLP group leader on Derry City and Strabane Council, was commenting on Mr Ó Muilleoir’s recent announcement of a range of measures in his review of the rates system in Northern Ireland, including pilot “business empowerment zones” for east and west Belfast – at a cost of £1million – which aim to rebuild working-class areas and boost regeneration.
Cllr Reilly (pictured) raised the matter at last week’s Full Council meeting at which he got cross-party support for his proposal.
Speaking today, he said: “I welcome the fact that Derry and Strabane District Council has endorsed my proposal that the Department of Finance introduce a pilot scheme for a ‘business empowerment zone’ in the city.
“The fact that two pilot zones have been announced for the Belfast area is yet another example of the Belfast-centric approach that damages Derry.
“Surely a pilot project – which has £1million set aside for it – should be wider than just the Falls and Newtownards roads.
“At Full Council, I pointed out how the call for a ‘balanced regional economy’ needs action through pilots such as this, which would – in the Minister’s own words – help to ‘rebuild working-class areas and boost regeneration.’
“I therefore hope that the Department of Finance will respond positively to our request for the City Council to be included in this pilot.”
Cllr Reilly went on to reiterate, once again, the need for a City Deal for Derry – something that has been long sought after by Foyle MP Mark Durkan.
He added: “I also used this opportunity to highlight once again that Council passed a motion back in March 2015 – which I had tabled – calling for a City Deal for Derry.
“In writing to the Finance Minister asking for a business empowerment zone, the Council also reminded his department that requests from the North West for a City Deal still go unanswered – despite willingness from Whitehall and the Treasury and the good examples shown by cities in Scotland, England and Wales.”