No ‘letter of offer’ for Daisyfield

She says Derry City Council needs to produce a business case that proves the £2m investment - promised in October - will address poverty and social exclusion in the wider Brandywell, Bogside and Foyle Road area.

Responding to an Assembly Question from SDLP MLA Colum Eastwood, Ms Ní Chuilín stated: “As the legacy projects and plans for investment at the Daisyfield and Showgrounds in Derry are at an early stage of development, no Letter of Offer has been issued to Derry City Council.

“A Business Case is currently being developed by Derry City Council which must demonstrate value for money and meet my Department’s priorities around promoting equality; and targeting poverty and social exclusion.”

Last October Ms NíChuilín announced her Department was allocating at least £2million towards the Daisyfield/Showgrounds as part of City of Culture capital legacy projects in 2014/15.

The £2m tranche of funding - which will be released should a letter of offer eventually issue - is an element of the much wider Foyle Valley Gateway development.

The funding will not assist the wider plans for the re-development of the Brandywell Stadium.

Ms Ní Chuilín has confirmed no Government funding will be available for stadium development at sub regional level until 2015 at the earliest.