AQO 1731/22-27 Oral question to the First Minister and deputy First Minister
To ask the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline next steps for the development of the Maze Long Kesh site.
Asked by Michelle Guy MLA on 6 March 2025
- Answered
- Oral
- Answered in the Chamber
- Tabled
- 6 March 2025
- Answer due by
- 18 March 2025
- Answered
- 18 March 202512 days after tabling
- Department
- The Executive Office
- Priority question
- No
Answer
Answered in the Assembly Chamber on 18 March 2025. Extract from the Official Report (Hansard), including any supplementary questions:
Mrs O'Neill
We recognise the immense economic, historical and reconciliation potential of the site and are committed to working with the Maze/Long Kesh (MLK) board to maximise those opportunities for the benefit of all. The board met the TEO permanent secretary on 27 February 2025. We have since received advice from officials on the options for the board and on the immediate priorities. That is under consideration in our office, but no decisions have been made yet on the future of the site.
Mrs Guy
First Minister, thank you for your answer. Have you been presented with options for the MLK Development Corporation on a way forward, and have those been considered? What are the next steps?
Mrs O'Neill
As I said, we recently received information on the specific options. We have to meet our permanent secretary to discuss those. No decisions have been made. We have to discuss them, because, as I have said in the Chamber, we need political agreement on the enormous economic potential of the site; you know that. I know that you agree with that, as do many others here. It could be a game changer for our local economy, so I hope that we can get political agreement and that we can open the site in a way that will bring huge benefits to our local economy.
Mr Speaker
Mr Brett is not in his place.