Archibald: Government must lift funding pause on city deals
The UK Government should immediately lift a funding pause on city and growth deaths for two Northern Ireland regions, Finance Minister Caoimhe Archibald has said.
Ms Archibald said the deals covering Causeway Coast and Glens and the Mid South West would be the catalyst for economic growth and jobs creation.
The minister met with Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn on Monday night.
She said: "The Executive and indeed elected members from right across the Assembly Chamber are united in our message that the pause must be lifted immediately for the Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid South West growth deals."
The whole of Northern Ireland is covered by four city and growth deals worth a total of £1.7 billion.
A Westminster Government decision to pause funding until its upcoming spending review was met by widespread anger from local politicians when it was announced late on Friday.
Over the weekend it was clarified that two of the deals - Belfast regions, and Londonderry City and Strabane - will not be affected by the suspension.
Ms Archibald had previously said she would be seeking clarity on the future of the deals for Causeway Coast and Glens and Mid South West.
The deals, which advance investment and infrastructure projects in specific areas, involve bespoke funding arrangements between the Treasury, the Stormont Executive and local partners.
The Belfast regions deal has already been signed by the Government and the Derry/Strabane deal is set to be signed this week.
The other two deals, which are subject to the funding pause, are not as far forward in development.
In an update, Ms Archibald said she had made it clear there should be no disparity in how the four deals are treated.
She said: "Local government and deal partners have invested considerable time, effort, commitment and enthusiasm into their deals, which will be a catalyst for economic growth and creating good jobs.
"I made clear to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury last night that there can be no disparity in treatment of the deals and that these regions should not have to wait until the spending review for clarity.
"I am determined to continue engaging with the British Government to make the case on the importance of these deals in delivering economic growth across the north."