City provided just 1% of draft responses

LONDONDERRY is the most apathetic constituency in Northern Ireland outside South Antrim with groups and individuals from the city providing just 1 per cent of Northern Ireland responses to the draft Programme for Government, the First Minister and Deputy First Minister have revealed.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Mar 2012, 11:03 BST

This is in spite of the programme’s concerning the creation of 4k jobs by ILEX, Londonderry UK City of Culture 2013, the upgrade of the Ebrington Clock Tower and the upgrade of the Coleraine to Londonderry rail line.

OFMDFM revealed that it received 432 responses to the draft Programme for Government (PfG). However, of this 66 respondents did not give any address details.

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But of the remaining 366 respondents just five were from Londonderry (just 1 per cent of the Northern Ireland total). Neighbouring East Londonderry (14 responses) and West Tyrone (7 responses) showed greater interest. South Antrim (three responses) was the only constituency more apathetic.

The Draft Programme supports the promotion of 25,000 jobs and the attraction of £300m in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by 2015.

It aims for the devolution of the corporation tax rate; the establishment of social clauses in public contracts as successfully implemented in the construction of the Londonderry Peace Bridge; a £50m liquidity loan for small businesses; the fast-tracking (6months) of 90 per cent of big jobs-boosting planning decisions; and the support of 200 projects through a Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF).

The Executive also wants to deliver 8k affordable homes; establish a new 11 council model for Local Government by 2015; and make the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) - which will replace the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) - operational by 2013.

People here had an opportunity to respond to the programme until February 22 but very few did.

Related topics:GovernmentNorthern IrelandFirst Minister