Altnagelvin and A5 to benefit from 2.5k jobs boon

Other schemes such as the new Omagh Hospital, Phase B of the Ulster Hospital and the A2 and A8 road projects will account for the remainder of the jobs.

Finance Minister Sammy Wilson outlined the North West projects in line to benefit from the jobs boon arising from the diversion of funds from the scrapped A5 Londonderry to Aughnacloy Western Transport corridor (WTC).

He said: “In my statement to the Assembly on February 14 I announced the outcome of the Executive’s deliberations on how to address the financial consequences of the Irish Government’s decision to materially revise its funding commitment to the A5 and A8 road schemes.

“I gave details of the investment in two sections of the A5, the A2 Greenisland Road scheme; the A8 Belfast to Larne dual carriageway; the next phase of the Altnagelvin Hospital refurbishment; and acceleration of both the new Omagh Hospital and Phase B of the Ulster Hospital.

“The experience of the two departments concerned in these projects (DRD and DHSSPS) and their consultation within the industry, including the Construction Employers Federation, indicates that these projects have the potential to create in excess of 2,500 construction sector jobs.

“I am not in a position to provide a detailed breakdown of the individual jobs relation to each project, or the different grades and specifications of the workers involved.”