New row flares over Maze spending plans
UNIONISTS have queried the “staggering” amount of public money being set aside for the development of the former Maze prison site, despite cutbacks across other government departments.
Last week, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) published its departmental spending plans under the revised draft budget, with over £20 million earmarked for the former top security prison.
Under the plans, a total of £21.38 million will be spent on the development of the site over the four-year period between 2011 and 2015.
Last July, following months of logjam, the DUP and Sinn Fein reached agreement on future plans for the prison, including the construction of a peace building and conflict resolution facility and the formation of a development agency to unlock the site’s commercial potential.
Consensus was reached following the collapse of plans to build a multi-sports stadium at the Lisburn site.
The issue of redevelopment at the Maze has divided political opinion here since the prison closed in 2000, with many unionists expressing concern over any plans to retain buildings linked to the republican hunger strikes.
Last year, it emerged more than £12 million was spent on clearing the Maze site for potential redevelopment.
Reacting to OFMDFM’s proposed capital expenditure at the site, UUP leader Tom Elliott claimed the figures raised a number of questions.
Pointing to the monetary breakdown, he said: “£1.88 million is earmarked for 2011/12, and £2 million for 2012/13, but this rises to £6 million in 2013/14 and £11.5 million in 2014/15. This is £21.38 million on a site which has already failed to deliver a national stadium.”
He added: “Just what is this money to be spent on? It can hardly be the so-called ‘conflict transformation centre’ as this is meant to be paid for out of European funding, so what exactly are the people of Northern Ireland to receive for their £21.38 million?”
TUV leader Jim Allister queried how capital spend in OFMDFM is to be “preserved” over the four-year period, while the department of enterprise, responsible for economic development, is facing a 64 per cent cut.
“The fact that money can be found for the Provo project at the Maze, but no money will be available for new industrial development projects across Northern Ireland, is a shocking indictment of Stormont and the priorities of its DUP/Sinn Fein coalition,” he said.
“I find this quite staggering and I believe most right thinking people will be equally appalled.”
In separate capital allocations, £23 million is proposed for the development of Ebrington barracks in Londonderry over the same time period. Almost £3 million has been allocated for Belfast’s Crumlin Road jail.
An OFMDFM spokesperson was unable to comment on the matter at the time of going to press.
