Question Time: Culture, Arts and Leisure Monday 21 October 2013
The
continuing success of Northern Ireland’s European super-bantamweight champion,
Carl Frampton, coincided with a number of questions on the current state of
boxing in the country during Question Time for Minister of Culture, Arts and
Leisure, Caral Ni Chuilin. In response to a topical
question from David Hilditch, the Minister revealed that there had been a “huge
uptake” to the tranche of funding made available to local boxing clubs.
During the scheduled
rota of Oral Questions the Minister then provided Peter Weir with an update
on the boxing strategy. The Minister revealed that, of the 60 plus boxing clubs
in the country “the majority need capital support” and that she would not blame
any parent taking a child to a club for the first time if they walked straight
back out again. Ms Ni Chuilin reiterated her belief that we need to get behind
the sport and make the investment required.
The Minister
also provided an update on the current state of the library system. Amidst
concern that some areas may not be able to access facilities in light of
library closures, the Minister declared that, while exact figures are not
available due to the outdated ELFNI computer system used by Libraries NI, “anecdotal evidence is
that there is greater use of mobile services”. It is also hoped that the
procurement and deployment of the E2 computer system in the coming year will
provide the accurate and detailed statistics required to identify where
services can be improved.
Ms Ni
Chuilin also answered Members’ questions on the Ulster Canal, the NI Events
Company and the City of Culture legacy plan.
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