Agreement reached over Maze site plans

The DUP and Sinn Féin have reached agreement on the future of the former high security Maze prison site near Lisburn in Co Antrim.

The North's First Minister and deputy First Minister are to propose the establishment of a development corporation for the site.

They are to table a motion in the Assembly at the earliest opportunity to debate the proposal.

If approved it is expected the corporation will be operational within six months of the vote.

The Corporation will oversee the opening and redevelopment of the site including the construction of a Peace Building and Conflict Resolution facility, which is expected to receive European Union funding.

It will also retain a number of buildings, including one of the jail's H-blocks and the hospital where 10 republican hunger strikers, led by IRA prisoner Bobby Sands, died in 1981.

Martin McGuinness said the joint office would shortly submit an application for EU funding for the Conflict Resolution centre.

It is anticipated the centre will be a world class facility of international importance designed to strengthen the peace building expertise and to share the North's experiences with others throughout the world.

Mr McGuinness said the corporation would drive forward the development of the site and it is believed that the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society, which stages the annual Balmoral show in Belfast, will relocate to the site during the first phase of the redevelopment.

Peter Robinson said the development of the 360 acre site would be hugely significant not only in terms of Northern Ireland but for Europe as a whole.

He said it could potentially create some 6,000 jobs, securing the construction industry in Northern Ireland for years to come.