Energy Minister Arlene Foster has welcomed the Northern Ireland Executive's support for extension of the natural gas network in Northern Ireland.

The Executive has committed to part-fund new gas transmission pipelines to main towns in the west of Northern Ireland, with a subvention of £32.5million. This follows a public consultation on gas extension during 2011, and more recent completion of a detailed economic appraisal by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.

Arlene Foster said: "I am very pleased that Executive Ministers have stated their support for my proposals to extend the provision of natural gas to the main towns in the west, including Dungannon, Coalisland, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Omagh, Strabane, and to Enniskillen and Derrylin in County Fermanagh.

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"This is a good news story and a positive commitment by the Executive, backed by financial resource of some £32.5million. Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. By extending the gas network, it is my intention to see some 34,000 additional business and domestic consumers in the west benefitting from the current lower cost, convenience, and efficiency which natural gas provides.

"New natural gas provision will help to lower manufacturing and production costs for businesses, thus improving their competitiveness, and will also help to reduce the level of fuel poverty affecting some domestic consumers."

The project to provide new gas transmission and distribution networks in the West of Northern Ireland is estimated to cost around £200million, and will provide both short term and longer term construction and engineering jobs.

(CD)