§ Mr. William RossTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish the criteria for aid under the CRISP—community regeneration initiative special projects—programme with a list of the towns and villages and other locations where CRISP schemes have been(a) approved and (b) completed; and how much public money has been committed to each such scheme, with an indication of the nature of the scheme.
§ Mr. AtkinsThe criteria for aid under the International Fund for Ireland's community regeneration and improvement special programme (CRISP) programme which is jointly funded by DOE(NI) and IFI are as follows:
1. A CRISP application must be for a town or village with a population less than approximately 10,000 in an area which has been designated as disadvantaged by the International Fund for Ireland.
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Approved community regeneration and improvement special programme (CRISP) projects Total committed Total DOE Total IFI Location Project £ million £ £ Coalisland 1. Weaving factory—Workspace units and industrial museum 2.700 1,000,000 1,700,000 2. Fireclay works—Industrial and commercial area 3. Cornmill—Heritage centre, library. UDP and EI Castlederg Castle amenity scheme. EI and UDP 1.180 466,750 716,750 Carrickmore Milestone centre—Workspace, office facilities, library and conference facilities. EI and UDP 2.030 860,000 1,170,000 Belleek 1. Gateway Centre—visitor and community business centre 1.776 635,500 1,140,500 2. Ceramics and craft institute. EI and UDP Keady Refurbishment of old mill—Retail units, heritage centre, office accommodation. ET and UDP 1.500 500,000 1,000,000 Dromore Creation of five small workspace units. EI and UDP 0.668 223,000 445,000 Belcoo EI and UDP 0.314 127,000 187,000 Newtownhamilton EI and UDP 0.600 125,000 475,000 Pettigo/Tullyhommon EI and UDP 0.190 50,000 140,900 Draperstown Plantation centre—Tourism and heritage. EI and UDP 1.100 345,500 747,500 Garrison Gillaroo centre—Heritage centre, shops and restaurant. Ei, UDP and project worker 1.051 479,605 571,605 Downpatrick 1. Ballymote community project—Retail and service centre 1.500 750,000 750,000 2. Refurbishment at Irish street—Office/retail units Derrygonnelly Refurbish derelict creamery to provide workshops and offices. EI, UDP and project worker 0.880 389,000 491,000 Portaferry Workspace units at Brewery yard, hostel accommodation at Bar Holm. Landing and mooring facilities. EI and UDP 2.060 552,425 1,510,425 Cullyhanna Heritage centre, workspace, retail units, tourist accommodation 0.575 237,500 337,500 Hilltown Refurbishment of Downshire Arms to provide accommodation and restaurant. EI and UDP 1.000 446,500 551,500 Plumbridge Refurbishment of derelict building to provide workspace, retail units. El and UDP 0.345 132,500 212,500 2. The CRISP application should be from a soundly-based local group which is broadly representative of the local community and should have the capacity to become registered as a company limited by guarantee.
3. A CRISP application generally comprises three elements—a core economic project, environmental improvement and urban development programme. The core economic project is generally funded on the basis of a grant of 80 per cent. and a 20 per cent. loan repayable with interest over 10 years. A project must demonstrate its viability on this basis and be related to local economic needs. The extent of environmental improvements is generally related to the scope within the centre of the settlement for improving publicly owned areas which are run down. The amount of urban development grant approved reflects a judgment about the extent to which the private sector will claim grants for improving its property.
4. Another consideration in deciding on a CRISP application is whether it is part of a wider regeneration strategy and the level of commitment of other agencies to other regeneration measures in that strategy.
A list of the towns where CRISP schemes have been approved with details of the financial commitment to each scheme and the nature of the scheme is given in the tables. As yet, none of the schemes has been completed, although a number of individual core projects are complete.
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Total committed Total DOE Total IFI Location Project £ million £ £ Stewartstown Workspace, office and shop units. EI and UDP 0.860 294,000 565,000 Cushendall Retail units, offices, workshops. EI and UDP 0.560 150,500 406,500 Drumquin Renovation of derelict mill to provide workspace and commercial units. El and UDP 0.326 131,000 195,000 Castlewellan Residential centre with retail units and language school. EI, UDP and project worker 1.000 362,750 637,250 Crossmaglen Development of two derelict sites to provide retail units, office accommodation. EI, UDP and project worker 1.000 333,000 667,000 Strabane Town centre development on site of former canal basin 2.000 1,000,000 1,000,000 Newtownstewart Self-catering units, museum. EI and UDP 0.737 303,350 433,350 Irvinestown Business enterprise centre. EI and UDP 0.817 355,000 462,000