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Derry and Strabane City deal to go ahead

Posted on by darion

View of Londonderry with the Peace Bridge over the River Foyle in the foreground and the City Hall and other buildings in the background.

Caoimhe Archibald said the deal was expected to be signed this week (Getty Images)

The Minister for Finance has confirmed that the deal for Derry and Strabane cities and economic growth will go ahead.

Caoimhe Archibald wrote on Twitter that the signing of the contract “we hope will go ahead as planned this week.”

City Deals are regeneration funding packages worth over £1.5 billion, of which around £600 million comes from central Government.

Secretary of State Hilary Benn wrote on X that she “looks forward to signing the financial terms of the Derry City and Strabane Deal – in the coming days”.

The UK Government withheld funding for the deal ahead of the country’s spending review, sparking outrage among Northern Ireland leaders, including First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who described it as “regrettable”.

Game Changers – Archibald

Caoimhe Archibald – a woman with long red hair, brown and red glasses and a cream jacket Caoimhe Archibald – a woman with long red hair, brown and red glasses and a cream jacket

Caoimhe Archibald confirmed the deal would go through on Saturday evening (PA Media)

In Northern Ireland, four agreements have been concluded: in the Belfast City region, Derry City and Strabane, the Mid South West region and the Causeway Coast and Glens.

Archibald said she was “continuing to press for the remaining deals”, which she said would “be transformational for regions across the north, creating jobs and boosting local economies”.

O’Neill said she had spoken to the secretary of state and urged the same approach to be taken for other city deals and projects such as Casement Park.

“This will be a significant boost to our local economy and we should do it,” she wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

A UK government spokesman said: “We recognise the importance of the Derry and Strabane agreement, which is at a very advanced stage.

“The UK Government is committed to continuing to work closely with the Northern Ireland Government on this agreement to enable its economic growth and provide new opportunities.”

Still a lot of work to do – Eastwood

In a statement, Foyle MP Colum Eastwood (SDLP) said he had spoken to a senior Treasury minister in the Cabinet Office and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO).

“I am pleased that in the last 24 hours we have made progress and received confirmation that the Derry City Deal will continue as planned.

“It’s a good start, but we still have a lot to do,” he added.

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