One Mythical Giant + One Minister + One National Trust = £9.25 Million

NdTNI - National disTrust of National Trust Northern Ireland Policy

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An inquisitive Northern Ireland tourist recently asked of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in a Freedom of Information request, if in light of the current rumoured allegedly serious allegations involving the Northern Ireland National Trust, whether or not, the DETI Minister Arlene Foster retained full confidence in the ability of the National Trust to carry out to it's successful conclusion the Giants Causeway project; bearing in mind of course, that £9.25 million of taxpayers money has been reportedly channelled into the aforementioned project?

Following is the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) reply to the aforementioned inquisitive tourist:

'Thank you for your e-mail of 19 January to Arlene Foster MLA, Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment regarding the National Trust and the Giant's Causeway project. The Minister has read your correspondence and has asked me to reply on her behalf.

Work is currently underway on the development of new visitor facilities at the Giants Causeway. Gilbert Ash was successful in the public tender to carry out the main construction works and work on site is progressing well. The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is confident that the project is on schedule for completion in 2012.

The Giant's Causeway Visitor Experience (GCVE) is an exemplar of good governance. NITB as a funder for such a large scale strategic project must ensure that it is economically and financially viable offering good value for money. The implementation of the Gateway Process, perceived as best practice will assist in terms of ascertaining the project’s viability and robustness. GCVE to date has progressed successfully through stage 2 and 3 of the Gateway process. NITB is committed to the successful completion of the project and are confident that the new facilities will enhance the visitor experience along Northem lreland’s premier driving route the Causeway Coastal Route (CCR).

Regular meetings take place with National Trust through an established project board.

A recent press release stated that total project costs of £18.5m included taxpayer contribution of £9.25m. In fact the funding mix, managed by NITB, is made up of £3.125m Govemment financial assistance and £6.125m from the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. National Trust will provide £6.25m and the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded financial assistance of £3m. NITB and National Trust are dedicated to the project and certain that every effort is being made to ensure the successful completion of the new visitor facilities at the Giant's Causeway.'

Note that rather than declaring the National Trust retained the implicit support of DETI Minister Arlene Foster, the DETI Spin Doctors decided instead to spin a web of utter meaningless drivel, so nothing has changed at the DETI either.

The question; does the DETI Minister Arlene Foster retain full confidence in the National Trust Northern Ireland, has not actually been answered, so what should be read into this omission?

Maybe rightly or wrongly, reading between the lines, it could be assumed the DETI Spin Doctors are actually stating Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) Minister Arlene Foster of the DUP, does not wish to be implicated in anything untoward allegedly rumoured to be involving the National Trust, and that she personally does not Trust the National Trust either!

Perhaps we should now invite the Minister to Join The Club!

NdTNI Northern Ireland Tourists National disTrust National Trust Northern Ireland!