NW ratepayers fund biggest increase in economic development spending

Londonderry ratepayers paid for 1,378,035 in economic development in 2004/5. This rose to 4,661,984 in 2008/9 - more than tripling over the five year period.

Only in Strabane where the local authority spent 247,129 in 2004/5 and 942,846 in 2008/9 was the increase in development spending greater..

Local Government Minister Edwin Poots outlined the figures for gross expenditure on economic development over the last five financial years in response to a query at the Stormont Assembly.

Across Northern Ireland many local authorities reigned in spending on economic development over the same period. Economic spending in the North West increased at a much greater rate than anywhere else in Northern Ireland.

In 2004/5 21,238,267 was spent in total. In 2008/9 this had risen to 29,775,343 - a total increase of 8,537,076 over the half decade.

Increased spending in Londonderry accounted for 3,283,949 of this total increase across Northern Ireland.