AQW 7624/22-27

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 27/02/2024
Answered On Date: 11/03/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for the Economy (i) what discussions he has had with Tourism NI and Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council regarding proposals for a new world-class golf course being developed at Magilligan and a museum of US presidents with local links; (ii) how his Department can be involved in the creation of these; and (iii) for his assessment of how this could positively impact the tourism in the north coast.

Answer:

To date there have been no formal discussions with Tourism NI (TNI) and the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council on these specific proposals. The proposals which have been presented at this stage are still in the exploratory stage and no detailed assessment has been carried out on either project.

It should be noted that whilst there was a golf course on Magilligan Point a little over 100 years ago, the land is a protected nature reserve today and the development of the site into a golf course will need to be include an investigation into the environmental protections currently in place to determine whether any development is possible.

TNI will be happy to work with the Council and other stakeholders to establish the viability of these proposals as they develop.

No formal feasibility study has been conducted into the economic value of a new championship links course, however due to the continued demand for links golf in the North the economic value has the potential to be substantial.

It would be advisable that careful thought is given to any museum development as very few museums operate without substantial public sector subvention and the project sponsors would want to be assured that such a proposal is commercially viable in the longer term before any commitment is made to such a development.