Leisure Centre: Craigavon

Oral Answers to Questions – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 2:45 pm on 29 September 2014.

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Photo of Stephen Moutray Stephen Moutray DUP 2:45, 29 September 2014

3. asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what contact has been made with Craigavon Borough Council to ensure that the new Southern Regional College can utilise the proposed new leisure centre in Craigavon. (AQO 6697/11-15)

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

While plans for the new Craigavon campus that is due to replace the current Lurgan and Portadown facilities are at an early stage, the potential for the college to utilise the new leisure facilities is actively being considered. Southern Regional College has confirmed that it is fully aware of the proposal for new district council leisure facilities and, consequently, does not intend to build a sports hall, a swimming pool or football or other sports pitches as part of the new campus in Craigavon.  The college is in regular communication with the district council and will continue this engagement with a view to establishing formal arrangements whereby the college can utilise the new leisure facilities.  The Member will appreciate that the discussions have been at a strategic level, given that the locations for the new leisure facilities and the college campus have yet to be identified.

I fully recognise the mutual benefits that can be obtained from the use of shared services.  My Department’s successful capital bid to the Together: Building a United Community programme to fund the Craigavon campus project demonstrates the focus on integration across the further education estate.  At a time of increased pressures on funding, there is a heightened awareness of and attention on the importance of maximising the use of resources through developing shared facilities.

Photo of Stephen Moutray Stephen Moutray DUP

I welcome the Minister's answer. The potential for the two bodies to work together is enormous.  Is he confident that this vital project will proceed, given the wrecking tactics of Sinn Féin in relation to welfare reform?

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

Some degree of assurance can be given, in that this is a capital programme.  Indeed, the first tranche of money has been secured as part of the Together: Building a United Community funding programme.  That gives a degree of certainty in relation to this.  There will be a need for further capital bids to be made around the balance of money required to make this happen.

At present, most of the pressures in the budgets are in the revenue area.  The Member is right to express alarm: what is already a difficult situation is set to deteriorate rapidly over coming years.  I see a difficulty arising if we end up having to make cuts in the further education sector. We will end up building colleges of a world-class standard but without the resource to equip them properly or to ensure that we invest in the students who will take advantage of them.

Photo of Dolores Kelly Dolores Kelly Social Democratic and Labour Party

Minister, I note that permission has been given to go ahead with the development proposal, and I think that the work is to conclude some time in the new year.  How much of a guarantee can you give us that there will be the money to deliver the project within the next three to four years?

Photo of Stephen Farry Stephen Farry Alliance

Maybe I will ask the Member to give us a guarantee that her party will see sense on Budget issues and ensure that we have sustainable finances in Northern Ireland. In that, we will have the answer to her question.