Executive must commit to college at Desertcreat - Overend

She made the call after a meeting with the Programme Board Director for the project last week.

Mrs Overend highlighted the comments made by the DUP’s Jonathan Craig of the DUP who questioning the viability of the Desertcreat site.

“For the people of Mid-Ulster this was bitterly disappointing. Having been hit hard by the economic downturn, they have long been promised that the construction of this facility will bring jobs and trade to Cookstown and the surrounding areas,” said the UUP MLA.

“Whilst the project has been beset by delays and setbacks from the outset, locally there is still a strong desire to see it completed.

“With that in mind, last week I met with the Director of the Northern Ireland Community Safety Programme Board, which is comprised of representatives of the PSNI, the Policing Board, the Fire Service, the Prison Service and the Departments of Health and Justice, and was very pleased to learn that they remain committed to going ahead with the project at Desertcreat, subject to Executive approval.

“With the cost obviously of primary concern he has assured me that a value engineering exercise has brought the project within budget tolerance levels.”