Minister ‘happy to support’ keeping gondola money in district

The Council had hoped to develop a 1km cable car structure and a mountainside visitors' centre on Slieve Donard, however the National Trust refused to lease land it manages for the project, saying the project risked "additional pressures on already degraded upland habitats".

In May NMDDC confirmed it was now "exploring" the possibility of moving it to Kilbroney Forest Park in Rostrevor instead – a move which has been met by objections locally.

The project is set to receive millions of pounds in central government funding through the Belfast Region City Deal.

During questions to the Minister at Stormont on Tuesday, DUP MLA for South Down, Diane Forsythe, asked Dr Archibald “given that Northern Ireland tourism is an important part of her remit in the Department for the Economy, whether she recognises that the Mourne Mountains are one of the biggest tourist attractions in Northern Ireland?”.

The Minister responded: “Many of us recognise the importance of the Mournes as a tourism attraction. I had the opportunity to attempt to mount Slieve Donard, but I did not get all the way to the top.

"The Mournes are a really important asset that we have. They add to the collective assets that we are really lucky to have as part of our portfolio. I, as the Minister responsible for tourism, have the pleasure of being able to sell them as destinations for people to visit.”

Ms Forsythe welcomed the Minister’s “commitment”, but stated that she had been less than impressed with NMDDC’s efforts to promote tourism in the area.

“I have been a bit frustrated with our local council, which has repeatedly diminished tourism in the Mourne Mountains and the Mournes area and has removed the name of the area from its tourism branding,” she said.

"The £30 million allocation through the Belfast region city deal was for a world-class tourist destination that promoted the Mourne Mountains.

"Since the failure of the initial project, the council has been keen to realign the £30 million elsewhere in the district. Will you, as Minister, and the Department for the Economy, as a key partner, commit to keeping the £30 million city deal money for a tourist attraction in the Mourne Mountains?”

Dr Archibald responded: “First, we have given the space to the Belfast region city deal group and its partners to bring forward proposals. I am happy to engage with them as they do that, and it is important that they take the necessary time and space to consider the opportunities and options that are in front of them and how to best utilise the funding.

"The case has been made that the funding should stay in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council area, and I am happy to support that if it is the wish of the Belfast region city deal group.”