Gildernew celebrates Kilkeel's £2million regeneration effort

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA has visited regeneration projects at the fishing port in Kilkeel, County Down.

During her visit the Minister toured four projects which have benefited from the £2million investment, of which DARD provided £1.45million through the South Down Fishing Taskforce Action Plan. These included the newly refurbished Nautilus Centre and car park improvement scheme and two fish processing units constructed in Binnian Enterprise Park. The Minister also took the opportunity to view the Small-Boat Pontoon Berthing Facility which has provision for 35 vessels and was completed by the NI Fishery Harbour Authority.

Speaking at Kilkeel Harbour, the Minister said: "I have visited Kilkeel today to offer some well-earned recognition to the integrated approach taken by a range of local stakeholders ranging from Kilkeel Development Association, the Fishery Harbour Authority, Newry and Mourne District Council and the NI Tourist Board towards the socio-economic regeneration of Kilkeel. It was rewarding to see how four distinct, separate projects within a relatively small area at Kilkeel Harbour, have been progressed in tandem in order to complement each other.

"Through the South Down Fishing Taskforce, my Department was able to provide £1.45million of the £2million investment needed to deliver these impressive regeneration projects in Kilkeel.

"The Taskforce was originally established to not only deliver additional resources to our local fishing industry but also, through Integrated Development Funding, to support good projects benefitting the wider fishing dependent communities. The projects being celebrated today in Kilkeel serve as a good example of how an integrated approach to regeneration can maximise benefits for the wider community. We are evaluating the overall impact of the Taskforce Programme and this will help us develop future socio-economic support for fishing communities under the European Fisheries Fund."

The Minister added: "Kilkeel is a great best-practice example to other areas in the north of Ireland, of how stakeholder co-operation delivers and the area has benefited from funding for a range of social and economic projects. I hope this regeneration together with future funding of £1.2million from DSD for town centre environmental improvements will serve as an incentive for all stakeholders. Kilkeel stands out for the area’s partnership efforts and I look forward to seeing the area realise the full potential in the future."

Notes to editors:

1. During 2005, the South Down Fishing Taskforce secured £6.3million from the Integrated Development Fund to deliver an Action Plan that would allow additional investment of over £10million in County Down’s fishing industry and its wider dependent communities.

2. In total, 55 projects have been supported through the Action Plan with approximately £4.8million Integrated Development Funding.

3. The projects supported range from direct fisheries support to community regeneration proposals, falling into one of the following six themes:

Theme 1: Fishing Industry – Diversification & Sustainability

Theme 2: Fishing Industry – Consolidating Infrastructure

Theme 3: Fishing Industry – Training and Education

Theme 4: Enhanced Tourism

Theme 5: Improved Communications & Public Relations

Theme 6: Environmental Improvement.

4. All media enquiries to DARD Press Office, telephone 028 9052 4619. Out of hours, contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440, and your call will be returned.