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Developer set to get Causeway nod Developer set to get Causeway nod
(30 minutes later)
Environment minister Arlene Foster is set to back a privately funded proposal for a visitor centre at Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction. Environment Minister Arlene Foster is set to back a privately funded proposal for a visitor centre at Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction.
In a statement she said she was "of a mind to approve" the private sector scheme, and would make a formal decision at the earliest opportunity.In a statement she said she was "of a mind to approve" the private sector scheme, and would make a formal decision at the earliest opportunity.
She said this would have an implication for a plan from the Department of Trade and Enterprise and NI's Tourist Board.
The previous visitor centre on the site burned down in April 2000.The previous visitor centre on the site burned down in April 2000.
The Causeway is Northern Ireland's top tourist attraction, with nearly 500,000 visitors a year. Tourism Minister Nigel Dodd said his department would drop its rival plans for the site.
He said his department had been involved as "a potential developer of last resort".
"This was at the request of the key stakeholders who were unable, over an extended period of time, to reach agreement," he said.
"It would not be a prudent use of taxpayers' money to proceed further in the circumstances, given Minister Foster's position on the private sector planning application. The DETI/NITB project would cost in excess of £21m."
The Causeway attracts nearly 500,000 visitors a year.
Renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt - resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago - it is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.Renowned for its polygonal columns of layered basalt - resulting from a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago - it is the only World Heritage Site in Northern Ireland.
Ms Foster said she had visited the site and there was considerable merit to Seaport Investments Ltd plan for a new Visitor and Study Centre at the site. Ms Foster said she had visited the site and there was considerable merit to the Seaport Investments Ltd plan for a new Visitor and Study Centre at the site.
"I am of course conscious that this announcement will have implications for the public sector proposal which has been under development by DETI and the NITB but which has not yet led to a planning application," she said. "I have asked my officials to engage with the developer and key local stakeholders on some aspects of the proposal so that I can make a formal decision on it at the earliest opportunity," she said.
"I understand that my colleague, Nigel Dodds, will be making a separate statement on this issue."
The assembly is due to debate the issue on Tuesday.The assembly is due to debate the issue on Tuesday.