Foyle MLA Durkan accuses Sinn Féin Minister Hargey of failing to deliver on Brandywell Stadium upgrade

SDLP Communities Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has expressed his frustration at the lack of progress with the Sub-Regional Stadia Programme for Soccer.

The Foyle MLA was speaking after Sinn Féin Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey told the Assembly the project could not proceed without Executive funding.

He said that while the DUP had jeopardised a number of important projects by collapsing the Executive, Minister Hargey had failed to progress the scheme over the last two years.

SDLP councillor Brian Tierney had been pushing Minister Hargey for progress and recently arranged a meeting between Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Department for Communities (DfC).

Mr Durkan said: “The DUP’s self-interested decision to collapse the Assembly has undoubtedly put key legislation and initiatives at risk, but myself and SDLP colleagues have been campaigning for years to have this programme progressed and now right before the end of the current mandate we receive confirmation it won’t proceed.

“Clubs in Derry and right across the North need this money to improve their facilities and upgrade their grounds to a modern-day standard. Sinn Féin told us over five years ago that this funding was guaranteed and successive Communities Ministers have failed to deliver it, much to the disappointment of local teams and their supporters.

“It’s regrettable that the latest political crisis in the North is once again holding back progress, this funding fell by the wayside when the Assembly collapsed and didn’t return for three years, but we have had multiple opportunities to progress this scheme if the will existed since the Assembly's return. I would urge Minister Hargey to leave no stone unturned to find a way forward before the end of the current Assembly term.”

Cllr Tierney, who represents the Ballyarnett ward, stated that given the renewed optimism thanks to the great strides made on the pitch by Derry City, the fans and the club would be disappointed.

He added: “This announcement from Minister Hargey will be bitterly disappointing for fans of Derry City who have been awaiting phase two of improvement works at the Brandywell Stadium. Institute FC had also been hoping it would help them in their pursuit of a new permanent home.

“Over the past few months I have renewed efforts to see progress on this scheme and during a meeting with DfC officials I stressed this importance of this scheme to clubs in our area and called on Minister Hargey to do everything she could to ensure progress before the end of the current mandate.

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“The first phase of this work transformed the Brandywell and has resulted in a much-improved match day experience for fans and everyone who uses the council-owned facility.

“At a time of renewed optimism when the club is making huge strides on the pitch, it would have been welcome to see progress on this long-standing issue. It’s unacceptable that over five years on from guarantees around this funding that clubs and fans in Derry and across the North are still waiting for the modern stadiums they deserve.”

The Derry News approached the Minister for Communities, Deirdre Hargey, to respond to Mr Durkan's comments.

Ms Hargey insisted that the money for the Sub-Regional Stadia Programme was ring-fenced and had not gone to waste.

However, she stated that the blame for the funds not being deployed to all football clubs across the North looking to upgrade their stadiums could be laid squarely at the door of the DUP.

She said: “The reckless and self-serving decision by the DUP to walk off the pitch and collapse the Executive is preventing the regeneration of local stadiums.

“The money to regenerate these stadiums is there, it’s ring-fenced, but it needs to be signed off by the Executive.   

“I am absolutely committed to delivering this investment to support sports clubs and build first-class facilities for the benefits of people in Derry and across the north.”