Can the National Trust be Trusted with our £9.25 Million?

NdTNI - National disTrust of National Trust Northern Ireland Policy

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It's been allegedly said that in politics a noble lie is a myth or untruth, which is all very well for those people with no concept of what actually constitutes the truth, those same people who have long since lost the ability of distinguishing between the telling of the truth and the incessant telling of untruths. There are people so habitually accustomed to telling untruths, that to them a bare faced blatant lie is their unwavering version of the truth for consumption by the 'peasants' of Northern Ireland. Those same recession torpedoed 'peasants' whose money keeps the privileged untouchables in the ivory tower extravagant life style to which they have allegedly become much to accustomed.

Can the National Trust be Trusted with our £9.25 Million? The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Northern Ireland), were asked over at whatdotheyknow.com if it could be established whether in light of news that the National Trust Northern Ireland is allegedly rumoured to be operating at a significant annual deficit in Northern Ireland, the current rumoured allegations of alleged rumours of alleged serious allegations involving the Northern Ireland National Trust including alleged rumours of alleged misrepresentation for financial gain, and rumours of an allegedly rumoured investigation, did DETI Minister Arlene Foster seek to have the current audited accounts of the Northern Ireland National Trust fully examined, and were adequate open and transparent procedures put in place to ensure the £9.25 million channelled towards the National Trust for the Giant’s Causeway project, is not used for any other purposes by the National Trust, other than that for which it was intended?

Following is the reply to the aforementioned Freedom of Information request as received from Tourism Policy Branch of the DETI, otherwise known as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: ' In terms of investment in the Giant’s Causeway Project, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (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. The Giant’s Causeway Visitor Experience (GCVE) to date has progressed successfully through stages 2 and 3 of the Gateway process. NITB views GCVE as an exemplar of good governance. NITB is committed to the successful completion of the project and are confident that the new facilities will enhance the visitor experience along Northern Ireland’s premier driving route, the Causeway Coastal Route (CCR). Gilbert Ash was successful in the public tender to carry out the main construction works and work onsite is progressing well. NITB is confident that the project is on schedule for completion in 2012.

Regular meetings take place with National Trust through an established project board and funders forum. NITB and National Trust are dedicated to the project and every effort is being made to ensure the successful completion of the new visitor facilities at the Giant’s Causeway.

By way of clarification I should point out that the £9.25m funding managed by NITB is made up of £3.125m Government financial assistance and £6.125m from the European Regional Development Fund under the European Sustainable Competitiveness Programme for Northern Ireland. The National Trust will provide £6.25m towards the project and the Heritage Lottery Fund awarded financial assistance of £3m.'

Any Spin Bowler would be proud of the amount of spin in the foregoing response from the DETI, but please do note the actual query; did DETI Minister Arlene Foster seek to have the current audited accounts of the Northern Ireland National Trust fully examined, and were adequate open and transparent procedures put in place to ensure the £9.25 million channelled towards the National Trust for the Giant’s Causeway project is not used for any other purposes by the National Trust, other than that for which it was intended, were not actually answered, so presumably the answer is a resounding - NO!