Cllr Marie Therese Gallagher Motion 144
Published: 1 March, 2008
Marie Therese Gallagher was co-opted onto Donegal County Council following the election of Senator Pearse Doherty.
Marie Therese Gallagher, Cumann Martirí na Rosann, An Clothain Liath, Dún na nGall.
Ag tabhairt tachaíocht don rún uimhir Céad ceathru 's ceathre.
This Ard fheis calls on the party to launch a 'spread the wealth' campaign to promote investment in infrastructure outside of Dublin, to ensure the economic and social development of counties outside the capital, thus alleviating the overdependence on Dublin.
Coming from the North-West and West-Donegal in particular we are well aware of the serious problems in terms of economic development outside the capital.
We have high levels of unemployment, the highest levels of poverty in the State and one of the highest levels of early school leaving.
When Fianna Fáil, launched Transport 21, they said that infrastructure is essential for economic development and I agree with them.
The problem is that the infrastructural development being planned, while badly needed in all areas of the country, is concentrated in areas other than the north-west.
It is no surprise that every county in every province in this country has a rail service, bar the counties of Ulster.
At the beginning of the last century, there were 200 miles of rail network in Donegal, with four different operators. Today, there is not one mile, yard, foot or inch of operational rail track in Donegal. Anybody who knows Donegal, will know of its infrastructural deficits.
It is essential for economic development in the north-west, to develop a rail link connecting the towns of Sligo and Derry. , which will create an all-Ireland rail network or loop.
I'd like to commend Cornor Murphy on his future planning, with investment of £64 Million to upgrade rail links and his commitment to the Derry - Coleraine link, this is all welcome news in the North West.
However, we must now turn our attention to the other large missing piece of the jigsaw, that is, Donegal. If one looks at the Government's transport infrastructure plan, Transport 21, it is clear that Donegal and the north-west has been left out, in terms of public transport.
It is great to see headline figures of €16 billion being invested in public transport infrastructure over a ten year period. It is also great to hear that €4.4 million will be invested every day in public transport but none of that money will be spent on new rail projects or public transport projects in Donegal..
The taxpayers of Donegal will contribute in the region of €555 million to the public transport infrastructure part of that plan but no plans are being put in place to bring public transport infrastructure to our county.
It is time to stand up for the North-West and Donegal in particular and demand investment to develop an all-Ireland rail link.
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