Extra budget allocation 'good news' for NI

The budget's funding package for both the arts and sport of over £30 million over the next three years has been hailed as "good news" by NIO Minister Angela Smith.

The budget provision equates to a £15 million windfall for sport and £18 million for the arts in the province. Ms Smith said the new money would enable the government to "embark on a long-term strategy to enhance and develop the sporting and artistic infrastructure" in Northern Ireland.

Around £12 million of the sport monies will be channelled into the continuing programme of improving health and safety at major sports grounds and build on the progress made in the area. The extra funding will, said the minister, also tackle the fundamental sporting infrastructure of the province.

The Minister added: “This will see the appointment of development officers, coaches and business managers to help ensure that Northern Ireland’s underachievement in sport is addressed, that participation is increased across the community and that inclusiveness and diversity are central to sports development in the province.”

The Minister also pointed out that she had secured an additional £1.5 million through the executive programme funds to develop community sport, especially in deprived areas, and to enable Northern Ireland athletes to compete in next year’s Special Olympics world summer games.

Turning to the arts, the Minister added that although Belfast was not shortlisted for the recent European capital of culture title, she was determined that the hard work which went into preparing the bid should not go to waste.

The minister also announced that the Grand Opera House would receive around £4 million for the organisation's modernisation programme.

Theatre Director Derek Nicholls welcomed the announcement, saying: "The opera house suffers from the fact that as a Victorian building it has poor front-of-house facilities by modern standards. The foyer is tiny and cramped, the bars have no real space, there's one staircase taking people up and down – by 21st century standards that's not the way you would treat and audience.

"What we have been striving for is to acquire some land beside the theatre on which we can build a completely new front-of-house for audiences on three levels which will give more space, more welcoming opportunity and improved access.

"The funding will now allow the opera house to buy the site needed for the refurbishment."

The works will also see much-needed additions to the backstage facilities at the theatre which, Mr Nicholls said, are cramped "particularly when accommodating the big international companies".

He went on to say that, as facilities were not up to scratch, the Royal Ballet had to be housed in portacabins during their two-weeks of performances.

(MB/GMcG)