Ulster Unionist MLA Michael Copeland has questioned the Deputy First Minister's knowledge of the finances regarding the business case for the peace-building and conflict resolution centre at the site of the former Maze Prison.

The East Belfast representative said;

“There is no doubt that the development at the Maze is important, and we have always supported the policy that we should help generate hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and thousands of jobs as a result. However, regarding the peace centre, which is a small part of the development, I asked the Deputy First Minister the following question:

“if any business cases exist, or are any projections available that indicate at which stage it will become self-sufficient in generating income? Will it be forever dependent for any length of time on subvention?”

Mr Copeland continued:

“I was rather surprised at the reply from Martin McGuinness, in which he said “All the empirical evidence tells us that this [the peace-building and conflict resolution centre] will not be a drain on our resources but will make something in the region of £1 million per year and bring about the employment of something like 70 people.”

Mr Copeland concluded:

“This came as rather a surprise, because previously a senior representative of the Strategic Investment Board, appointed by OFMdFM to progress the development of the Centre, indicated that the Centre could cost the taxpayer £2 million in the first 3 years rather than deliver the £1 million profit which the deputy First Minister stated yesterday.

The fact is that until OFMDFM publish the Business Plan, and the research commissioned through Colliers International, there will be no openness or transparency regarding the level of public support for this venue, or the cost to the taxpayer."