Sammy Wilson, who is also Northern Ireland’s Finance Minister, said he has made an additional £10 million available to the Department of Social Decelopment to help ensure masterplans for Carrick and Larne are implemented.

“In total there is now £15 million in this budget and whilst there are many demands made of me for finance, I wanted to ensure that this money was allocated to DSD so that these schemes could go ahead,” he said.

“It is now up to the DSD Minister to decide how the monies are allocated around the various schemes. I am glad that we will now see progress on town centre rejuvenation around the country.”

The Social Development Minister, Alex Attwood, who grew up in Greenisland, was at the Town Hall earlier this month for the official launch of the local masterplan.

Mr Attwood expressed optimism that the implementation of the plan will help restore Carrick to its status as a “hustling and bustling” centre for retail and tourism which he remembers from his childhood.