NI Environment Minister Edwin Poots has announced planning approval to extend Northern Ireland's famous salt mine ensuring enough supply to grit our roads for the next three decades.

The major application will extend the mine by almost 279 hectares, the equivalent of 340 international football pitches, and will result in 10 new jobs.

Current salt reserves are estimated to run out in 2012 and this extension will provide a further 30 years’ working life to the mine.

The Minister said: "This is good news for the local economy. The mine is one of only three in the British Isles and supplies salt both throughout Northern Ireland and internationally.

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"The application was processed in just six months by the Planning Service, showing the benefits of the public and private sector working together to make a positive impact on the economy and quality of life for our community."

The Minister continued: "Irish Salt Mining and Exploration (ISME) makes a significant contribution to the Northern Ireland economy.

"With this approval we have secured the positions of its 54 full time employees and up to 10 new jobs, together with a large number of companies and people involved in the supply and maintenance of this industry.

"We have been through the coldest winter in 30 years and tribute has to be paid to the staff at Irish Salt mines, who worked around the clock throughout the winter period to ensure there was enough salt to grit the roads."

(NS/BMcc)