30 Samh 2012, 12:33
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Joe McHugh TD today welcomed the launch of the Northwest Science Park in Derry.
30 November 2012
Over £12 million of funding, from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme, was announced today to extend the successful science park model currently operating in Belfast to the North West. The project will involve the construction of a science park facility at Fort George in Derry, and a 20,000 sq ft extension to the Co-Lab facility at Letterkenny Institute of Technology. The Irish government contributed over €3m to the project.
Attending the launch this afternoon, Committee Chairman Joe McHugh TD says: “On behalf of the Committee, I warmly welcome today’s announcement, which has the potential to deliver almost 300 high-quality knowledge-based jobs to the northwest region by 2019. Peace makes initiatives like this possible and we must all redouble our efforts to concentrate on economic and job creation projects like this one, to ensure future economic growth and stability in the region.
“Our Committee, for its part, is committed to exploring all practical avenues to securing peace and prosperity for citizens on both sides of the border. For instance, on a Committee visit to loyalist/unionist and nationalist areas of North and East Belfast only last week, the common challenges facing both communities were starkly highlighted. Providing jobs is an imperative for young people in particular across Northern Ireland and the border region.
“This is a most worthy project, involving two substantial science facilities. This Science Park contributes significantly to developments to embed higher value companies and facilities in the region. Our Committee looks forward to this Science Park becoming another landmark to future economic development and prosperity. Likewise the Science Park in Letterkenny will hopefully become a catalyst for future similar developments.”
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Ends
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Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Martin McAleese, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD