New road projects across Donegal’s road network have been launched as part of a multi-million euro Government project.
Minister Joe McHugh and Cathaoirleach Cllr Terence Slowey made the official opening today, May 8th. Fine Gael TD McHugh said that the works are proof of the hard work which was done by former Donegal TD Dinny McGinley and show that the Government is working for Donegal.
The Blackburn Bridge re-alignment project between Ballybofey and Donegal Town cost €6.3M.
The west Donegal N56 works are part of an overall €70M project which includes cycle lanes along the route. Phase 3 from Kilkenny to Letterlilly is out to tender with work due to being before the end of the year at a cost of an estimated €12M.
Last week the Government committed another €15M towards removing the Blue Banks bends from the N56 between Coolboy and Kilmacrennan.
The project had not been previously included in capital spend plans until the intervention of McHugh who proposed the new road should go ahead-alongside work on a new Lough Salt to Letterkenny water main.
Speaking before the official road openings this afternoon, Minister McHugh said: “The completion of roadworks in Leitirmacaward and outside Ballybofey is proof this Government is working for Donegal.
“The latest completion of work on the N56 is a testament to the fruitful work of former Minister Dinny McGinley who worked hard to ensure this work got underway in 2015.
“The removal of the Meenacarn Bends and now the Gweebarra Bends is an enormous legacy for Dinny and for those of us in Government who are working hard to get Donegal ahead again.
“The Mulantiboyle Bridge and the Cockhill Bridge are two more infrastructure projects delivered and being delivered.
“Minister Pascal O Donohue has been extremely supportive of Donegal. All these projects, those due to start and those underway or completed are all providing work for numerous local sub-contractors and their employees.”
The Government has also released more than €1.8M to Donegal County Council for investment in its housing stock.
The Donegal TD received confirmation of the funding from Housing, Planning and Local Government Minister Simon Coveney.
The €1,875,000 allocation to Donegal is the biggest single grant to any local authority outside Dublin.
The money will be used to help return void and vacant social housing units to productive use.
Minister McHugh said the allocation reflected the need for social housing in the county as well as the work of Donegal County Council.
“Minister of State Damian English met with senior executives on the council last month to discuss their plans and he was extremely impressed with the leadership being shown at council level on a whole range of issues including housing and urban and rural renewal projects,” said McHugh.
“This follows the release of €5M for social housing projects in Stranorlar and Carrigart.”
Minister McHugh said a range of recent funding announcements for Donegal were as a result of making the case to colleagues that the county has been left behind in the past and is still playing catch-up.
“There have been projects which were put on the long finger in the past; there is no doubt about that,” said McHugh.
“As the nation’s finances improve and more people get back to work, I have been making the argument for proper resources for Donegal.
“It is important to recognise the incredible work being undertaken by Donegal County Council on a range of fronts. Minister English remarked during his visit that if every local authority had the same vision as Donegal, it would make his job a lot easier.
“New town and village renewal grants have also just been announced which will help enhance heritage and support new businesses across Donegal.
“The National Broadband roll-out will see broadband delivered right across Donegal – including rural areas – with most homes connected by the middle of 2018, many of those to 1Gig speeds, speeds people in Dublin only dream about.
“So there is a lot of good work going on. The economy is improving all the time and it’s my job to continue to lobby for funding including for the Lifford to Letterkenny road and the Bonagee link. Funding for engineering works was released just a couple of months ago for these projects to get them up to speed.
“More than €20M is being spent across our community hospitals and more than €7M for Killybegs harbour with funding also released to secure the future of the tourism campus of LYIT in Killybegs. I am continuing to lobby for €10M in funding for Greencastle Harbour.”
Minister McHugh said Donegal needs to be ready for the challenges of Brexit, saying a Government-led conference is being planned before the end of May here in the county.
“A huge amount of work has taken place already,” said McHugh.
“Ireland needs the best possible outcome from the negotiations and that includes freedom of movement for our citizens across the border with Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh.”
He added: “I do have a voice inside Fine Gael nationally and inside Government. That voice is being heard. And Donegal benefits.”
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