The DUP MLA said, “This was the last project remaining of the City and Growth Deals which had been placed in jeopardy when they were paused last September.
In 2017 the DUP made those City and Growth deals a reality and we have been working alongside the club to engage with government to see the Skills Centre confirmed.
As a local representative I have been engaged in this, and it has also repeatedly been raised by Gavin Robinson in Parliament to press the Government for action.
This funding will be an investment in vital community infrastructure within North Belfast and will help tackle issues such as educational underachievement. It was a disappointment that the uncertainty was allowed to continue for so long, even after the other City Deals had been confirmed. However, the news today will be warmly welcomed.
I will continue to be a voice for communities in North Belfast and to demand they get the same opportunities as others across Northern Ireland.
The new Skills Centre will be a boost not just for people living in the immediate vicinity, but for the wider community in that part of North Belfast.
I want to pay tribute to the club, who have fought tirelessly to ensure this project will now become a reality.