To ask the Minister for Social Development whether he has any plans to provide revitalisation investment to support existing traders, improve shop frontages and promote the town of Coleraine.

Last year my Department contributed grant funding of £280,000 to Coleraine Borough Council to deliver a revitalisation scheme in the Waterside/Bridge Street area of Coleraine. The Council was considering a new revitalisation scheme for the town centre this year but my Department is currently unable to provide funding as its budget is fully committed.

Under the Reform of Local Government, the new Councils will take on responsibility for delivering regeneration programmes from 1 April 2015. Shadow Councils have now been advised of their annual indicative budget allocations in advance of budget transferring to them. It will be a matter for Causeway Coast and Glens Council to decide its own spending plans and priorities for future regeneration programmes including those for Coleraine.