‘Why is Derry’s money going to Ballymoney?’
Concerns have been raised that money from Derry’s City of Culture legacy funding will be used for a project in Ballymoney in Co Antrim.
The concerns were raised at a meeting of Derry City and Strabane’s District Council by the SDLP’s John Boyle, after his party colleague, Foyle SDLP MLA Gerard Diver, raised similar concerns directly with the Culture Minister Cara Ní Chuilín in the Assembly.
Responding to a question from Mr Diver, Ms Ní Chuilín said she had made ‘bids to ensure that there was a legacy for the City of Culture, and, thankfully, that was approved.’
She then added: “I have made subsequent bids for Coleraine, which received £1·6 million, and for Dungiven, which received £2·2 million.
“I believe that there will be further funding applications for support for Ballymoney through the legacy programme, working in conjunction with Derry City and Strabane District Council and, indeed, others.’
The Minister added The Museum of Free Derry ‘received money, as did many others’, adding that ‘given the legacy of underinvestment’ in Derry, it is ‘completely appropriate that each of the Departments bid to try to redress the balance somewhat’.
Speaking the council meeting, Cllr Boyle said t while there was no issue other areas receiving funding, such as the new sports centre in Dungiven, he did find the inclusion of Ballymoney ‘somewhat curious’.
“Derry City was the City of Culture, but that’s not to complain about the allocation of funding to other areas,” he added.
However, Cllr Boyle did say that if there was money available for Coleraine, Dungiven and Ballymoney, then there should also be ‘further investment into this city’.
He then asked for clarity as to how much money remained in the Legacy Funding pot, and whether any of that had been used for projects in Strabane.
Chief xecutive of the council, John Kelpie, said that ‘no stone would be left unturned’ when it came to funding, particularly in relation to ‘leisure projects’.
He said council officers would pursue any funding opportunities ‘vigorously’, adding that Oonagh McGillion is the Director of Legacy, with Derry City and Strabane District Council, would bring a report back to the committee on the ‘scale’ of the Legacy funding, ‘where it has been spent’, and whether there are any opportunity to avail of future funding.