‘Game changing’ Mid South West growth deal signed

A £1.5bn package for Stormont was announced last month by the UK government

The Mid South West Growth Deal has been described as “game changing” as an agreement to deliver it was formally signed on Wednesday.

City deals - also known as growth deals in more rural areas - are regeneration multi-funding packages worth millions of pounds for areas across Northern Ireland.

Funding for the Causeway Coast and Mid South West deals were previously "paused" during a pre-Budget spending review.

In October a £1.5bn package of extra funding for Stormont from the UK government was announced.

The Growth Deal package comprises a funding commitment of £252m

This package means that the funding pause is lifted for the Causeway and Mid South West deals.

There are four deals in Northern Ireland: Belfast City region, Derry City and Strabane, Mid South West region, and Causeway Coast and Glens.

On Wednesday the Heads of Terms Agreement signing for the Mid South West Growth Deal took place in County Tyrone.

The first and deputy first ministers were at the event in Cookstown's Burnavon Theatre.

First Minister Michelle O'Neill described the deal as a 'game changer.'

The initial pause of the deals had provoked outrage among Northern Ireland leaders in September with First Minister Michelle O'Neill describing it as "deplorable".

Speaking at the event on Wednesday Michelle O’Neill said: “It’s great to be here in Cookstown to sign for the Mid South West growth deal.

“It’s a game changer for local economic development and for investment infrastructure.”

She added: “There was a time when we thought it was touch and go, we weren’t sure if we would get here to this junction. So today is such a good news story and demonstrates works, it works well.”

'The path has not been smooth to get to this point,' said Emma Little-Pengelly

Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly said: “Obviously the path has not been smooth to get to this point, so it’s great that everyone can be here.

“It took a collective effort , but we are clear that we want all parts of Northern Ireland to benefit from economic growth and prosperity.”

Secretary of State Hilary Benn said: “The past is the past, today is about signing the deal and the future, that’s the important thing.

“The case for these growth deals were very powerfully made and that’s why we’re here today."

The Mid South West Growth Deal investment package comprises a funding commitment of £252m from the Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government to support Infrastructure, Tourism and Regeneration, as well as Digital and Innovation projects.