Infrastructure overhaul plan gets go ahead

Legislation is being prepared to set up the special body that will guide government decisions on strategic infrastructure investment in Northern Ireland, direct-rule finance minister Ian Pearson said today.

The Minister made his comments during a speech to the Association for Project Management conference in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall today. He said the government would forge ahead with the plan to overhaul Northern Ireland’s infrastructure as announced by the Prime Minister and the Chancellor last May. A key part of this strategy, he said, will be the establishment of a Strategic Investment Board.

“I know that the establishment of the Strategic Investment Board was a priority for David Trimble and Mark Durkan, and it is one I am committed to progressing quickly," he said.

"To that end, we are preparing an Order in Council to take forward the necessary legislation. This will establish the Board as a company rather than a statutory corporation.”

At a strategic level, the board would assist with the management of infrastructure investment – both in advising on an overall capital investment programme and in taking an overview of Northern Ireland’s strategic infrastructure needs and how these might best be addressed.

At a project level, it would advise on the implementation and delivery of key infrastructure projects and seek innovative sources of financing. It is hoped that the board would be a centre of excellence and expertise that can ensure key projects are developed and implemented as effectively as possible.

“If the Strategic Investment Board is to make a real difference in the way we manage and deliver projects, then it needs to be able to respond quickly to changing circumstances. We also need to create an organisation attractive to the right people. The quality and experience of staff will be the key to its success.”

Mr Pearson pointed out that work has already begun with the announcement last July which provided £270m for a total of 29 projects. Projects supported include the Cancer Centre and other essential hospital developments, three major new school schemes, improved facilities at 75 small rural primary schools, the replacement of 20% of mobile classrooms, road and water improvements including M1 widening, and funding to address fuel poverty and homelessness.

“We are committed to continuing and promoting the reform and modernisation agenda," he said.

“We want to achieve a policy framework for the use of Public Private Partnerships which finds broad support among all stakeholders; helps deliver an investment strategy to provide much-needed public sector infrastructure improvements for the people of Northern Ireland; and which contributes toward the creation of our strategic investment blueprint, comprising the best from all sectors.”

(GMcG)