Posted online: Dec 2nd, 2011

A cross-party delegation from Donegal Co. Council is hoping to meet with An Taoiseach Enda Kenny to ensure that more funding is allocated for the A5 road upgrading plans.
The issue was raised by Cllr. Ciaran Brogan at the monthly meeting of Donegal Co. Council where he stressed that there has been huge investment in motorways in the county in recent years, but the north-west has missed out.
He felt that the way the issue has been handled over the past month has been “nothing short of disgraceful” and described the allocation of €50 million for 2015 and 2016 as just “chicken-feed.”
Cllr. Brogan pointed out that councillors had been fighting this case for over ten years, Derry is the fourth largest city in the country, and other cities have rail services which Donegal does not. “It is nothing short of a disgrace the way this issue has been handled in the last month,” he said, adding that it sent out the wrong message for investment.
Calling for full support for a cross-party deputation to meet with the Toaiseach, he said that it was “important that we take the lead and state that we are going to take nothing less.”
Meanwhile, Cllr. Bernard McGuinness felt that the council should now take the case to Europe given the importance of this upgraded road for cross-border traffic.
Cllr. Terence Slowey, agreeing, said that Ireland-west MEPs should also be part of the delegation.
During a lengthy debate, Cllr. Paul Canning warned that if the A5 upgrade “goes off the table it will never be back on the agenda.”
Cllr. Frank McBrearty said that the bottom line was that the A5 and the N14 and N15 are the three most important roads for the region.
Cllr. Gerry Crawford said that if they get the new bridge near Lifford to link into the A5 there is still the problem of the “slow motion road to Letterkenny.”
Cllr. Patrick McGowan recalled that the A5 upgrade was part of the St. Andrew’s Agreement and was meant to say that the north-west is open for business.
Director of Roads and Transporation, Mr John McLaughlin, said the A5 was of critical importance to Donegal and the executive would do all in its power to facilitate the deputation.
“The next step is to meet the Taoiseach. I see some of the other delegations are earmarking meetings in Belfast as well,” he said.
It was agreed the deputation would include the County Manager, the Mayor of Donegal and a cross party delegation of councillors.
“We all know how politics works. We have to demonstrate to the Taoiseach that this is our number one priority. We’re appealing to the Taoiseach as a special case on this issue,” Cllr Brogan added.