BORDER roads in parts
of Inishowen are dangerous and sometimes impassable,
according to local T.D., Joe McHugh.
Deputy McHugh said he was "shocked" at the condition
of some roads around St. Johnson and Craigadoes when
he was canvassing for election.
“These roads won’t be improved any time soon and
access to the county in general will not improve
unless these areas are prioritised for funding.
"The Government cannot allow all the funding from
the peace dividend to be channelled to the east
coast as has been the case in the past," he said.
Deputy McHugh said he was concerned about the
"uncertainty" relating to roads funding under the
Interreg IV Programme meaning that a key source of
funding for Donegal roads was now under threat.
“I have been contacted by constituents across
Donegal North East’s border areas from St. Johnston
to Bridgend complaining about problems such as lack
of traffic-calming measures which is putting the
lives of children at risk and a lack of repairs on
border roads," he said.
“One constituent who works in the community sector
told me that people in one border area feel they are
being discriminated against because roads are not
being repaired. "Some of these roads are badly
affected by heavy rain and are almost impassable at
times.
"Many of these border communities in places like St.
Johnston, Carrigans, Newtowncunningham and Bridgend
have grown in size in recent years with people
moving in across the border from population centres
like Derry and Strabane, and the roads are much
busier and therefore more dangerous than ever."
Calling for positive discrimination for these areas,
he added: “These are communities which have been
economically affected by the Troubles and these
areas should be specifically targeted so that they
are among the first to benefit from the peace
dividend." |
