AN estimate of €2 million has been put on the damage caused to Buncrana’s Swan Park during the recent flooding.
Now Sinn Fein Senator Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has again appealed to the Government to “step up to the plate” on funding the reconstruction of the area.
He has also appealed for assistance in redeveloping Glenevin Waterfall in Clonmany following the floods of last August.
He said he has repeatedly raised the need for the Government to step up to the plate and provide the funding for the restoration of these two vital Inishowen amenities.
He added that he has repeatedly made requests to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring to meet with him and other Donegal public representatives to work on a solution.
He said “I now understand that the estimated cost of reconstructing Swan Park is over 2 million euro. And although the Glenevin Waterfall Committee have made real progress in restoring the walk up to the waterfall through fundraising and the dedication of local community volunteers, the cost for the remainder of the works will be very significant”.
“It is a dereliction of the Government’s responsibilities to ask Donegal County Council or the Inishowen Development Partnership to shoulder the full financial burden for restoring Swan Park and Glenevin Waterfall. There is no way that other communities in Ireland would be asked to do the same following a devastating flood. There is no way that the main community park or beautiful walk for communities in Dublin, Cork or elsewhere would be left this way without any Government support.
“I have acknowledged the assistance from the Government to date with getting our roads and bridges repaired in Inishowen and East Donegal but for the life of me, I can’t understand the failure to assist with these two hugely important community and tourism amenities. I can assure the Government that this is not going to go away. They need to do the right thing by the people of Buncrana, Clonmany and Inishowen”.
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