Construction work has commenced on Northern Ireland's new £30m Public Record Office in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.

Stormont Ministers Nigel Dodds and Gregory Campbell welcomed the scheme as a "much needed investment in cultural infrastructure".

Mr Campbell said: "My department has committed around £30m to the new state-of-the-art facilities which will protect Northern Ireland's irreplaceable archives in a safe and secure environment."

In his role as Culture Minister, Mr Campbell said he relished the opportunity to act as a Architectural Design Champion on the project.

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He said: "The new record office will be a building of high design and sustainable construction, a legacy for future generations to cherish and use."

Mr Dodds acknowledged the important contribution the construction industry makes to the Northern Ireland economy.

He said: "The on-going roll-out of the Investment Strategy (ISNI) will help to alleviate some of the current pressures on the industry."

The Finance Minister said the new record office headquarters demonstrates the Executive's commitment to the delivery of ISNI.

"Sustainability has been used to formulate the overall development strategy for Titanic Quarter and the new PRONI headquarters building will be an excellent example of sustainable development in construction," added Mr Dodds.

(PR/JM)