Speaking at the event, Sports Minister Edwin Poots MLA said: “In January I announced that a further £100,000 would be made available in 2008/2009 for health and safety improvements at motorsports events in Northern Ireland. 2&4 Wheel Motorsports Group will be in a position to advise individual clubs of their allocation very shortly.
“Through this fund, the North West 200 will receive an allocation of £34,000 to purchase safety equipment, most of which will also be available for other promoters to use throughout the year.
The Minister continued: “I cannot stress the importance of health and safety in motorsports enough. It is vital that safety measures are put in place to protect not only the riders, but also the spectators who add so much to the races through their support.”
The Minister also took the opportunity to remind organisers of events that a grant funding programme totally £1.6 million to support both large and small events is now available.
“The Major Events Fund is aimed at big events while the Events Growth Fund supports events which will grow and impact on local communities.
“We need more events like the North West 200 to attract tourists, investors, international media coverage and will have a major economic impact on Northern Ireland.
“Applications for the programme are due by the end of this week. The Funds provide an opportunity too good to miss and I want to remind organisers that they need to submit their applications by 2 May if they are to be in with a chance of being considered for funding at this time.”
Thanking Minister Poots, Mervyn Whyte Clerk of Course said: “The Coleraine Club is extremely grateful for all the support and funding which the North West received in 2007 and this year through the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. Each year the NW200 gets larger and more complex to operate and both myself and the 850 other volunteers appreciate that DCAL funding helps enormously to make vital safety improvements and also helps raise the profile of the North West outside Northern Ireland. I would also like to pay tribute to Sport Northern Ireland and 2&4 Wheel Motorsport Group for their support in helping us implement the DCAL funds. We hope that our highly successful funding partnership with DCAL will continue in future years.”
Notes to Editors:
1. Funding for events is currently managed by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. DCAL is now seeking applications for funding for 2008-2009 under two funding streams; the Events Growth Fund (EGF) and the Major Events Fund (MEF).
2. The Events Growth Fund is for small events which could 'grow' into large scale events. Projects funded under this stream should have the potential to grow or develop into a major/international event, provide a stepping stone to attracting a major event and become sustainable over a three-year period.
3. The Major Events Fund is for those applicants applying for support for large events attracting significant out of state media. The events likely to fall within this category are major national or international world events, such as world championships, sporting events, high profile music events or unique cultural events.
4. Application forms along with guidance notes are available for download from the DCAL website 
.
5. Applications for funding under both streams must be received by no later that 5.00pm, Friday 2 May 2008.
6. Application forms and guidance notes may also be obtained by contacting the DCAL Events Unit team, via email: at eventsunit@dcalni.gov.uk or write to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, DCAL Events Unit, Grants Team, Redwood House, 66 Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5NW
7. A working group of senior officials within DCAL, DETI and NITB has been established to oversee the transfer of the events function to NITB at an appropriate time subject to both the Minister of Culture Arts and Leisure and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment being satisfied with the arrangements.
8. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office Tel (028) 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk
9. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
