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Cash crisis for Lough Foyle Ferry Company
06.02.09
THE FUTURE of
Inishowen's car ferries, particularly the Lough
Swilly ferry, is looking increasingly bleak. As
concerned Buncrana traders and tourism providers
held a public meeting this week, the Government
insisted it would not provide any subsidies for
either the Lough Foyle or Lough Swilly ferry in
2009.
Around €300,000 in operating funding is needed but
it seems the Lough Foyle Ferry Company will have
difficulty sourcing money from the public purse this
year. Meanwhile, Buncrana traders met with ferry
company director Jim McClenaghan at a public
gathering in the Beach House restaurant at Buncrana
pier on Tuesday night. The business community in
Rathmullan were also due to meet while a joint
delegation from the two towns are to meet Donegal
TDs this weekend to outline their plans for the
future of the Lough Swilly ferry. Speaking to the
Inishowen Independent, Buncrana shop owner Carl
Fullerton said the people of the town had a right to
know whether the service has a future. “I know from
my own experience that most people in local business
are happy to let important decisions be taken by the
politicians because we believe they have our best
interests at heart. |
“But there is the
possible concern that they are not going to vote to
renew the Lough Swilly Ferry. The problem as we see
it that negotiations go on with the County Council
every year until May and by that stage it is too
late to promote the summer service.
What we in the Buncrana Traders Association are
calling for is for Central government to take |
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over the running of the
Foyle and Swilly Ferries and to guarantee the
service for several years,” said Mr Fullerton.
Mr Fullerton said it was unacceptable that a
decision whether the Lough Swilly ferry would run
‘went down to the wire’ every year or that crossing
was funded by local politicians members allowance –
councillors ‘pocket money’ as he called it.
He said members of the Buncrana Business Community
would not accept the ‘Credit Crunch’ being used to
justify the cancellation of the Lough Swilly
Service.
“The Government could fund the Swilly ferry for the
next five years with a fraction of what it cost to
build the Mulroy Bay Bridge or for less than the
cost of a mile of motorway,” added Mr Fullerton.
“They can afford it and to be honest this ferry is
important to the people up here as any piece of
road.”
Businesses in Buncrana were facing a bleak 12
months, he added, and the loss of the summer trade
brought by the Swilly Ferry would have an adverse
effect on trade.
“The bottom line is Buncana is going to have to make
a living from the tourist trade. We need the Lough
Swilly Ferry and we, as local business people,
cannot stand idly by and let it disappear.”
Meanwhile, at the request of Deputy Joe McHugh, Fine
Gael MEP Jim Higgins is attempting to source money
for the local ferries in Europe. |
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