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Broad welcome for A5 boost
16.02.12
by Eamonn Mac Dermott, Inishowen Independent
THERE has been a broad welcome for the news
announced by the Stormont Executive that it will
pump £330 million to improve two stretches of the
main Derry to Dublin road.
The plans announced this week will see work
undertaken on the stretch between Derry and Strabane
and the stretch between Omagh and Ballygawley.
There were fears, after the Irish Government
withdrew pledged funding, that the scheme would not
go ahead.
Local hauliers' spokesman, George Mills, described
the announcement as ‘encouraging.’ “The key for the
North West has always been infrastructure and this
announcement means that there will be some
improvement in the road network between here and
Dublin.
“So the fact that some sections of the road between
Derry and Dublin will be upgraded is good news. I
suppose that something is better than nothing.”
Sinn Féin’s two Donegal TDs, Pearse Doherty and
Pádraig MacLochlainn welcomed the news and called on
the Dublin government to reconsider their position. |
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The Ballygawley roundabout on the
main A5 Derry to Dublin road. |
Deputy MacLochlainn
said: “A lot of work has been done behind the scenes
by Sinn Féin led by Martin McGuinness to ensure that
this infrastructure project is delivered. I want to
congratulate him on today’s announcement. This is a
welcome boost for Donegal and the whole North West.
“It will open up the North West, cut travelling
times and make the region more attractive for
business and tourism. It will also create thousands
of jobs during the construction phase of the
project.”
Fine Gael TD., Deputy Joe McHugh said: “I welcome
the fact that the A5 will be upgraded from
Newbuildings to Strabane, and from Omagh to
Ballygawley.
“Those sections will be completed by 2016, which is
a very positive outcome for Donegal.
“Ultimately the North-South political process is
about calmness, consensus and building up trust.
This result today proves how far we have come.
“For the Northern Ireland Executive, which will
channel majority funding into this project over the
next four years, this is a massive leap of faith.
“That leap of faith is an indication of the
excellent work that An Taoiseach Enda Kenny TD has
personally done to secure this project, at a time of
very scarce resources.”
However, Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue called
on the Government to recommit to the Ballygawley-Derry
road. While the previous Administration had promised
to share the £800 million bill, last November the
current Administration withdrew most of the funding
allocating just £50 million between 2015 and 2016.
“I am urging the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and the
Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar to commit to a
new timeline and funding arrangement so that the A5
project can be completed in full. It would be a
shame to throw away years of hard work and
co-operation on a project that’s of such huge
economic importance to the North West," said Deputy
McConalogue. |
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