Transport Minister admits ‘historic failure’ leaves Donegal not connected properly to rest of country

The Transport Minister has said it is a ‘historic failure’ that Donegal is not connected properly to the rest of the country as he offers support to major road development projects.

Green Party Leader and Minister for Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan visited Donegal on Friday.

The Minister met with Donegal County Council members in Lifford on Friday afternoon where members voiced their views on his policies and the work of his department.

The major issues raised by councillors include the Ten T project, the N56 road and the inability to achieve planning permission on the road, greenways and public transport including problems with Bus Éireann.

Road safety, electric cars and the reduction of the speed limit were also discussed during the meeting.

Speaking during the meeting, Minister Eamon Ryan offered his support to the TenT project which will see the construction of three new routes – the Twin Towns By-Pass, the Bonagee Link, and from Manorcunningham to Lifford.

The Ten-T project is expected to come before Cabinet in coming weeks.

Minster Ryan said the project is required to alleviate traffic congestion in Letterkenny.

“In terms of the Ten T, the three main road projects in Stranorlar Ballybofey and the N13 and N14, and the

Letterkenny work – it is about getting traffic out of Letterkenny.

“I can say as the Transport Minister, we should be prioritising bypasses.

“Taking traffic out of towns to the best of our ability and making it safe to walk and cycle or have public transport solutions.

“We have to be brave and take the through traffic out of Ballybofey and Stranorlar.

“My experience in the past is if you put in a bypass but keep the current arrangements in the town centre, the traffic just returns to fill a void,” said Minister.

During the visit, Minster Ryan admitted that, in regards infrastructure, Donegal is not properly connected to the rest of the country.

“Donegal is not connected properly to the rest of the republic.

“It this has been a historic failing which includes the removal of the railway connection.

“I am a Champion for the All Ireland Rail Review in terms of the Portadown, Omagh Dungannon, Strabane, Letterkenny route which would be a gamechanger.

“It is incredibly expensive and the British government will have to pay for the guts of it but I don’t see why we should not champion that.

“I think it would address the fundamental lack of connection to Donegal and the rest of the country which is a major problem,” said Minister Ryan.

The Minister also acknowledges Donegal’s unique geographical position and said the county has great potential to be instrumental in the country’s conversion to renewable energy usage.

He said, “Donegal has a real advantage but that also presents challenges in terms of wind resources we have particularly.

“I know Donegal already has the largest concentration of wind farms.

“The reality is that we are going to be switching to a renewable future and the earliest counties and countries that are good at this are the ones that is going to economically do best.

“Donegal has great potential here as not only is it a matter of switching to this energy source but in my mind, it is also about bringing the industry to where the energy is, rather than building grids everywhere.

“Donegal has real potential there because the wind is so strong.

“The real potential is going off shore and it will take some time but we are starting.

“The real big prize will be when we go into deeper waters off shore and that is where Donegal has the most potential because the winds are strongest in the North West.

“The prospect in my mind is how do we tap into that and how does Killybegs, Foyle Port, Greencastle and even Derry benefit from this,” said the Minister.

Minister Ryan acknowledged that the defective block crisis had dominated the housing issues in Donegal for the past number of years, and said it will continue to dominate for the next 10 to 15 years.

Cllr Liam Blaney asked the minister for an update on the latest government approval of the SEAI grants for the defective concrete block scheme regarding dry-lining.

Cllr Blaney said the document is still waiting on approval and questioned when it was likely to be approved.

Minister Ryan said he did not have the answer to hand, but would provide an update to Cllr Liam Blaney at a later date.

Minister Ryan also referred to the retrofitting social housing and the scale of the challenge of having to retrofit thousands of buildings.

However, he added that those who have it done are realising it is the best thing they could have done.

“It really helps make your home warmer and more affordable.

“We really need to think how do we do all 5,000 social homes – how do you convert every one of our social homes and every home in Donegal to make it fit with a renewable future,” said Minister Ryan.

In regards transport, Minister Ryan said the emissions are still rising by three to four percent which demonstrates the importance of public transport.

During the visit, Councillors addressed the minister about various public transport challenges, and he acknowledged the contribution of a number of private bus companies.

He said there has been an increase in the use of public transport – a trend which is hopes to see continue.

“The connecting Ireland and rural bus services are really starting to work.

“Our rural public transport figures last year grew 115% in one year.

“However, I don’t think people know where the bus stops are – we need things like bus shelters, time tables – because particularly for our young people, public transport is starting to work,” said Minister

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