An official statement has insisted that there will be no funding shortfall for Titanic Belfast - despite claims to the contrary by the UUP.
This followed a BBC exclusive story this morning that reported the Titanic Signature building in Belfast could be facing a €20m funding shortfall.
The spokesman for the UUP then said it would not qualify for £20m of funding from Europe as expected.
Former UTV journalist - turned politician - Mike Nesbitt said he was shocked that the application may be rejected, suggesting problems with the tendering process and submission.
Mr Nesbitt said there has been "a growing pattern of failure to handle process".
He said there had been an application for grants towards the cost of the building and said this was being queried by the European Commission.
However, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) has confirmed that there is no funding shortfall for Titanic Belfast.
They said that it is on course for completion and will open as planned on 31 March 2012, in time for the 100-year anniversary of the Titanic's maiden voyage.
"The project is fully funded. The Department has applied for £18.4million funding under the European Commission (EC) Competitiveness Programme, which is still subject to an ongoing assessment by the Commission," said a statement on Friday afternoon, adding that EU funding is irrelevant to the successful completion of the project.
"If funding is not drawn down against Titanic Belfast it will be drawn down against other projects.
"However DETI is optimistic that it can address the EU's queries.
"For these reasons, the issue was not raised with the Enterprise, Trade and Investment Committee."
DETI insists that Titanic Belfast will indeed be Northern Ireland's must-see attraction when it opens next year.
"Feedback nationally and internationally has been incredibly positive.
"It has created job opportunities and is already attracting interest from tourists across the world, with over 30,000 group bookings received to date and over 100 events booked into the banqueting suite," the DETI statement continued.
(BMcC)
Time and date
CONSTRUCTION DIRECTORY
Latest Construction News
25/11/2024
Northern Ireland-based construction company GRAHAM has been awarded Platinum accreditation by The 5% Club, which is their highest level of accolade. The 5% Club company, a benchmark of investment in future talent, awarded GRAHAM the Platinum membership for their unwavering commitment to empowering ...
25/11/2024
Building and civil engineering contractor Farrans, based in Dunmurry, Northern Ireland, has been selected as one of 19 businesses as preferred partners to SP Energy Networks' record £5.4bn supply chain contract programme. SP Energy Networks have selected the 19 companies to help them deliver the ...
25/11/2024
Energy provider ESB Networks has been working over the weekend to restore power to 60,000 homes predominantly in counties Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Galway following the impact of Storm Bert. As of 5.10pm, 11,000 of ESB Network's customers remained without power, meaning 49,000 homes had saw their ...
25/11/2024
Alliance has rejected Infrastructure Minister John O'Dowd's claims that NI Water's funding model is 'fit for purpose'. Alliance Infrastructure spokesperson, Andy McMurray, accused the Minister of "burying his head in the sand" over the funding issues and stated that the Minister rejected evidence ...
25/11/2024
Grass Pitch Refurbishment Projects in Sandyford, Dublin, have successfully been completed, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR) has announced. Pitches at both Moreen Park and Páirc Uí Bhriain were the subject of upgrade and improvement works as part of an ongoing programme aimed at ...
25/11/2024
Northern Ireland construction company McLaughlin & Harvey placed runner-up for social impact at the Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) End of Year Gala. The event, recently held at the Natural History Museum in London, recognises and celebrates outstanding company-wide performance among ...
25/11/2024
Expert water services crews are working to locate and repair a major pipe burst which is impacting water supply across Mid Kerry, Uisce Éireann has announced. The affected raw water pipe provides water to the Mid Kerry Gearha Water Treatment Plant supplying Listry, Beaufort, Killorglin and ...
25/11/2024
Uisce Éireann has temporarily shut down the Dunmanway Water Treatment Plant in Cork after it was impacted due to poor raw water quality from storm flooding. The turbidity of the incoming water for treatment remains high, resulting in the closure of the plant, and reservoirs in the area are now ...
25/11/2024
Irish Government has offered financial support to householders who have been impacted by Storm Bert. The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme provides income-tested financial support to those whose homes have been damaged from flooding and severe weather events and who cannot meet costs for essential ...
25/11/2024
A topographic and hydrographic survey will be carried out from today onwards by Murphy Geospatial Limited for the N17 Knock to Collooney [Atlantic Economic Corridor] Project. The project will consider the upgrade of the existing N17 from Knock in County Mayo to Collooney in County Sligo. The ...