AQW 6013/22-27

Mr Colin McGrath
Social Democratic and Labour Party
South Down

Tabled Date: 09/02/2024
Answered On Date: 22/02/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities (i) what funding will be made available to Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in advance of this year’s Irish Open; and (ii) what funding was made available to Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council in relation to hosting the Open Championship in 2019.

Answer:

I can confirm that officials in my Department’s Regional Development Office recently engaged with Newry, Mourne & Down District Council regarding potential funding for a project to revitalise Castle Park in Newcastle, in order to contribute to the regeneration of the area. Funding will be subject to a positive economic appraisal and budget being available.

While there are no current funding opportunities in my Department or Sport NI to support legacy activities for sporting events, such as the Irish Open and The Open, I am happy for officials to engage with Councils to explore how local communities can benefit from the legacy of such events. As yet, my Department has not received a request to meet with NMDDC to hear of their plans in advance of the Irish Open.

I can advise that officials from my Department and Sport NI have met with Golf Ireland, the governing body of sport for golf - formerly Golf Union of Ireland, to hear of their plans to develop golf as part of the legacy of hosting the Irish Open this year in Royal County Down, Newcastle and also for The Open returning to Royal Portrush in 2025.

In respect of funding provided for hosting The 148th Open in 2019, I can confirm that my Department provided funding to Causeway Coast & Glens Borough Council to run legacy programmes to promote participation, inclusion and community engagement:

£35,000 to deliver The Open Legacy Primary Schools Programme; and

£6,750 for an Inclusive Golf Programme.

In addition to the funding provided for golfing activities, the NI Executive, in 2017, approved a programme of regeneration works for Portrush in advance of the tournament. My Department with approval from the NI Executive invested a total of £14.7M in the programme overall, of which £8.75m funding was made available to Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council.