16/04/2009

Public Infrastructure Investment Pledge By Dodds

Stormont Finance Minister Nigel Dodds has reaffirmed the Executive's commitment to investing in new public infrastructure to assist the construction and business sectors.

Speaking after a meeting with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), which covered a range of issues within the land, property and construction sectors, Mr Dodds announced an evaluation of the vacant rating policy in Northern Ireland.

"The Investment Strategy is designed to build the basis of our future prosperity and it is vital that we continue with the major capital building programmes already outlined," he said.

"Departments are therefore fully focussed on delivering the Investment Strategy. Substantial progress is being made with capital investment in the 08/09 financial year expected to be more than £1.5bn. This compares with £676m five years ago."

The Minister announced an evaluation of the policy on the rating of empty commercial premises, which will look at the effectiveness and impact of the policy over the five years it has been in place, as well as considering its effect during this current economic downturn.

"I am aware that the RICS is pressing for change in England and Wales but it must be borne in mind that I have put the interests of NI business first by not following the changes made there to vacant rating policy - where they moved to 100% liability as well as rating empty factories – precisely because of the impact it would have at this difficult time," said Mr Dodds.

Other items on the agenda included an update on how the department is strengthening building regulations in terms of energy efficiency and sustainability; to further reduce the amount of carbon emissions from buildings and the effective implementation of the Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) regulations.

(PR/KMcA)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

09 December 2013
Community Projects Receive £1.1m
A total of 16 community groups across Belfast have received total funding of just over £1.1m from City Council. The funding boost is being delivered through the £5m Local Investment Fund (LIF), which is part of the council's wider Investment Programme for the city. The move brings the overall amount allocated through the fund to over £2.
16 May 2013
£1.25m For Belfast Community Projects
20 community regeneration projects across Belfast have received funding totalling £1.25m from the City Council. The funding is part of £5m set aside for the Local Investment Fund (LIF). Just under £1.3m is earmarked each to the North, South, East and West of the city and a further £490,000 allocated for the Shankill area.
06 March 2018
Claims Nigel Dodds Attended Meeting Over Draft Stormont Agreement Denied
DUP Leader Arlene Foster has denied claims that her colleague Nigel Dodds attended a meeting when a draft agreement was passed between her and Sinn Féin leader Michelle O'Neill. Mrs O'Neill previously claimed that Mrs Foster had reached a draft agreement days before the talks at Stormont collapsed.
05 September 2014
Diane Dodds Selected For European Parliament Committee
DUP MEP Diane Dodds has been re-appointed to serve on the legislative European Parliament Committee known as the Conference of Presidents.
08 March 2012
2012 Marked As Year Of Progress For NI
2012 will mark a year of progress and change for Northern Ireland; this is according to DUP’s Nigel Dodds. Opening a debate on changing the perceptions of Northern Ireland, the DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds said the NI2012 campaign would highlight the best parts of the country. "Northern Ireland has changed hugely over the last number of years.