Minister visits major new sports arena project in Cookstown.

Minister for Agriculture Michelle O'Neill is picture with Cookstown Council chairman Pearse McAleer, Conor Corr, chairman of Sward, cllr James McGarvey, Sward member, Ivor Paisley, director of Corporate and Operational Services with Cookstown Council, Oliver McShane, Cookstown Council Sports Services manager, Dion Williams, Dorran Consultants and representatives from Cookstown Council and Newtonstewart Construction, when the Minister visited the new indoor facility and pavilion currently under construction at the Mid Ulster Sports Arena.INMM3013-111ar.

On Wednesday, the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister, Michelle O’Neill, visited the Mid Ulster Sports Arena to see at first hand the progress of the new indoor facility and Pavilion, which is scheduled to open next year.

The indoor sports facility (2,400 sq metres) will contain 3 pitches (25m x 32m) and a viewing area.

Two of the pitches will have a 3G surface and one will be a needle punch surface.

The Pavilion will be a single storey changing facility to complement the existing buildings and cater for additional requirements brought about by the indoor sports area and will include six new changing rooms; two official rooms and facilities.

Minister O’Neill said: “The Rural Development Programme, through Local Action Group SWARD, are providing nearly £800,000 towards the cost of this very important project to the Mid Ulster area.

“This is one of many strategic projects that my Department is supporting across the north which are designed to help boost investments in rural areas and maximise the drawdown of the EU funding available.”.

The Minster continued: “This project will provide a high quality indoor multisport and multi activity hall and pavilion and will increase participation from underrepresented groups such as females, the elderly and those with a disability.

“It will also improve quality of life of those living in rural areas providing much needed access to recreational services for rural dwellers.

“This is a key aim of my Rural Development Programme and I am delighted that locally, the progress is tangible and visible to all.

“The project is due to complete early in 2014 and will be available to people from across the locality, and indeed further afield to benefit from this wonderful recreational facilities for years to come.”