Sinn Féin Donegal TD and Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty has launched the party’s ‘New Deal for the West’ document.
Speaking at the launch, the Donegal TD said that “for too long, the people of the West of Ireland have come last when Governments have decided policy and Budgets”, and that “under a Sinn Féin-led government, the people of the West of Ireland would no longer treated as second class citizens… Sinn Féin are prepared to do what is necessary to save our towns and villages, the heart of rural Ireland.”
Deputy Doherty said: “For too long, the people of the West of Ireland have come last when Governments have decided policy and Budgets. This has led to a dearth of facilities and opportunities for the people of the West and has left communities devastated as businesses have closed and young people have left for the cities or even emigrated, as they have in their thousands.
“Sinn Féin will deliver a New Deal for the West.
“Sinn Féin has a vision to make the west a sustainable place to work and live, particularly for young people without whom there can be no future for communities.
“A Sinn Féin government would introduce a new deal for small towns and villages throughout the west. This would mean the retention of the village school; the retention of and extension of services available in the village post office; and an audit of the public transport system to ensure villages’ needs are catered for, and the retention of doctors in local villages and small towns.
“We must also work to create sustainable employment and allow people to have a credible career path. This is essential in any thriving community and the West of Ireland is no different in this regard. The creation of jobs in the West has been impeded by a number of factors but particularly by the poor quality of broadband and transport infrastructure. There has been a lack of focus by the enterprise development agencies on creating jobs in the West.
“In government, Sinn Féin will develop a new enterprise spatial strategy in order to orientate infrastructural development and IDA and Enterprise Ireland development in a balanced regional manner. Sinn Féin will improve connectivity, including broadband and transport infrastructure to the West and within the West.
“Under a Sinn Féin-led government, the people of the West of Ireland would no longer be treated as second class citizens. There have always been key policies that could be pursued in order to stop the brain drain of our young people and the closure of local business west of the Shannon, the only problem has been a lack of political will. We in Sinn Féin are prepared to do what is necessary to save our towns and villages, the heart of rural Ireland.”
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