St. Patrick’s Centre to receive Stormont cash

St. Patrick’s Centre to receive Stormont cash

6 June 2012

THE Stormont Executive is to provide funding for the troubled St. Patrick Centre, according to a local MLA.

Sinn Fein’s Chris Hazzard announced this week that the Executive will provide up to £20,000 a year for the next three years to ensure the centre stays open.

Last month the centre came close to closing after Down Council cut its funding and insisted on the repayment of an 11 year-old loan. Just days before the doors closed a deal done between the centre and the council that they would work together to keep the complex open.

Intense lobbying has been done by Centre officials of major political figures in Northern Ireland in a bid to identify additional funding, lobbying which appears to have paid off.

Mr. Hazzard has welcomed the decision by the Executive to provide funding for the centre.

“It is important for the cultural and tourist industry that this centre is maintained and becomes the focal point of the St. Patrick experience in the South Down area,” said Mr. Hazzard.

“I am calling on Down Council and the management of St. Patrick’s Centre to come together and work out a strategy that will make the centre self sufficient during this period of grace.”