Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster today helped turn the first sod, marking the start of construction of a new aircraft hangar at Enniskillen's St Angelo Airport.

The £1.38 million workspace development project, which has been financed with assistance from the EU INTERREG IVA Programme, will see the construction of a 37,000 sq ft hangar to provide aircraft maintenance facilities at the airport.

Speaking at St Angelo Airport, Arlene Foster said: "This important construction project represents a significant boost for St Angelo airport, Fermanagh and the wider region. The financial assistance provided by my Department is a further example of a continuing commitment to supporting enterprise and tourism in the region."

Expressing her support for initiatives that seek to enhance the economic infrastructure of Northern Ireland and create jobs, the Minister added: "With the construction of these new aircraft maintenance facilities, St Angelo Airport will be able to generate greater levels of both business and leisure activity to help grow the local economy. In addition, it is envisaged that the new hangarage space could attract an aircraft maintenance company which would ultimately result in the creation of at least 14 highly skilled jobs in aviation, engineering and technical disciplines."

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Welcoming guests to the sod turning event, Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council, said: "The commencement of construction of the new aircraft maintenance facility at St Angelo Airport is an extremely welcome development for the wider ICBAN region. The project is a crucial infrastructural investment for the region and we are delighted with the level of assistance Fermanagh District Council has received from the INTERREG IVA Programme."

Speaking at the event, Pat Colgan, Chief Executive of the SEUPB, said: "Under ICBAN’s multi-annual plan for the Central Border Region, a diverse and innovative range of projects have successfully secured funding of over €7million from the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme. The work at St Angelo Airport represents a significant piece of this investment and will help to ensure greater levels of economic development and cross-border co-operation across the region."

(CD/GK)