£1.5m funding is to go towards addressing dereliction in towns and cities in Northern Ireland.

The funds were confirmed by Finance Minister Sammy Wilson in the Assembly two weeks ago.

The move follows investments in Portrush, Portstewart and L'Derry.

Environment Minister Alex Attwood said: "This dereliction funding scheme grows from strength to strength. Money pumped into Portrush and Portstewart gave a welcome boost before last year’s Irish Open. Similarly, Derry benefitted from a significant improvement in advance of the City of Culture as did Fermanagh in the weeks preceding the G8 summit. Already £2m has been spent in nine council areas including Belfast. Many more can now do so.

"This is a project of increasing significance. Tourists will be put off by eyesores. If we deal with dereliction, vacant properties and abandoned building sites, we create the opportunity to attract local investment and tourists. So for the councils who will receive allocation, I urge them to “press on” and I will continue to bid for in year monies to take forward this successful scheme.

The councils that will receive funding will be:

· Ballymena – £160k

· Armagh – £45k

· Ballymoney – £100k

· Larne – £160k

· Coleraine – £140k

· Carrick – £100k

· Cookstown – £120k

· Newry and Mourne – £80k

· Omagh – £120k

· Strabane – £200k

· Antrim – £70k

· Dungannon – £17k

· Newtownabbey – £80k

· Banbridge – £50k

· Castlereagh – £30k

(IT/CD)