Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill has announced that visitors to Lough Neagh will benefit from an additional layer of safety following £123,394 funding from the Rural Development Programme (RDP) for a new rescue boat and an off-road rescue vehicle.
Officially launching the ‘Martin Kidd’ rescue boat at the Lough Neagh Rescue’s Antrim station Minister O’Neill said: “The Lough Neagh Rescue team provide a vital service to users of the Lough and it is befitting that they were successful in being awarded £123,394 to purchase a bespoke design rescue boat and other rescue equipment by GROW South Antrim under Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme.
“A key aim of the RDP is to generate increasing numbers of visitors to our rural attractions, although this is one of the few occasions where I hope that new equipment provided through RDP funding is not used too often.
“Whilst I advise visitors to always think safety first when enjoying the beauty of Lough Neagh we are all too aware that accidents can happen. It is therefore encouraging to know that, through the RDP, visitors can be reassured that the Lough Neagh Rescue team have an additional modern rescue boat to enable them to provide blanket coverage of the Lough from either of their three stations at Antrim, Kinnego and Ardboe, continuing to provide the vital service to all users of the Lough.”
Chair of GROW South Antrim Local Action Group, Vera McWilliam, said: ‘’GROW is delighted to award Lough Neagh Rescue this much needed funding to ensure that we have a talented team of volunteers in Antrim keeping the Lough users safe at all times. This additional service will reassure potential visitors and users of the Lough and in turn will benefit the entire rural area.”
]]>
