10 January 2000

MICHAEL McGIMPSEY ANNOUNCES FUNDING PACKAGE FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WORKS TO SPORTS GROUNDS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Sports Minister, Michael McGimpsey MLA, today announced a package of around £2 million to fund an interim scheme of safety improvement works at sports grounds in Northern Ireland over the next two years, starting in April 2000.

Launching the scheme, developed by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport in conjunction with the Football Trust and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland, Mr McGimpsey said: "This is an interim measure, put in place to address immediate health and safety concerns pending consideration of the longer-term requirements by the Assembly in due course."

Mr McGimpsey explained that under the package now in place, the Football Trust will make available £800,000 for the 2000/01 and 2001/02 financial years. The Trust will review the level of funding at the end of the first year. The Sports Council for Northern Ireland has also agreed to make £300,000 of the Sports Lottery Fund available for each year. There is a reasonable expectancy that funding will continue for a third year.

Making this announcement, Mr McGimpsey said: "The whole question of safety at sports grounds is one which is of paramount importance to the new administration in Northern Ireland. I am very pleased, therefore, to announce that the Football Trust and the Sports Council have agreed to make these substantial funds available to enable this interim scheme to be implemented. I will make a further announcement on how the scheme will be administered when on-going discussions with the Football Trust and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland have been completed."

Tom Pendry MP, Chairman of the Football Trust, commented: "As a former Northern Ireland Minister I am well seized of the needs of the Province. I am delighted therefore that the Football Trust has been able to provide the funding necessary to help set in train essential safety projects at grounds in Northern Ireland."

Commenting on the arrangements, Don Allen, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Sports Council, said: "I am delighted that this interim scheme is to be put in place and that the monies will go some way to improving safety at sports grounds. The Sports Council for Northern Ireland is committed to ensuring that all facilities are safe for both spectators and players alike."

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS

Following the publication of the Taylor Report on the Hillsborough Stadium disaster in 1989, and the strengthening of safety legislation in GB, the need for equivalent action in Northern Ireland was addressed. An inter-departmental group was set up under the Chairmanship of Department of Education to examine safety at sports grounds and recommended that legislation similar to that in GB should be introduced in Northern Ireland. A Compliance Cost Assessment, prepared as part of the report, indicated that a minimum of £20 million would be needed to bring sports grounds in Northern Ireland up to Taylor-related standard.

Relevant Ministers agreed in principle to the recommendations of the report but considered that it would be appropriate for the Northern Ireland Assembly to take the matter forward.

During the delay in moving to devolution, it became the overarching concern that urgent progress was needed to be made towards ensuring the safety and comfort of those attending sporting events in Northern Ireland. Towards this end the scheme outlined above for an interim programme of safety improvement works at sports grounds in Northern Ireland was drawn up in conjunction with the Sports Council and the Football Trust, to address immediate health and safety concerns.

The Football Trust receives its income from the Football Pools Companies.