TAOISEACH TOLD OF BORDER REGION’S NEEDS AT MEETING IN MONAGHAN

Cathaoirleach of Monaghan Co Council David Maxwell was part of a six-person delegation from the Northern and Western Regional Assembly which met Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD at the Hillgrove Hotel in Monaghan Town last Friday to discuss the need for a number of major infrastructural deficits in the region to be addressed. The delegation was led by the Regional Assembly Chair Councillor John Naughten from Roscommon. It also included the Mayor of Sligo, Councillor Declan Bree, Councillor David Collins from Galway, Councillor Jack Murray from Donegal and Councillor Aine Smith from Cavan. MEP for the Midlands North West Maria Walsh was also in attendance at the 90-minute discussion.

The Taoiseach was presented with a case for the removal of the matching funding requirements for projects under Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The Government was requested by the delegation to prioritise a number of key transport projects in the region, including the upgrade of the N2 in Co Monaghan. The upgrading of the N17, the Galway City Ring Road, the Galway-Sligo Western Rail Corridor and the ATU Letterkenny Library/I.T. Education Building project were also identified as important priorities for the region.

“If we want to see genuine regional development and if we are to develop a counterbalance to a dominant Dublin it is critical that the Government now takes the necessary steps to ensure that the objectives contained in this regions Spatial and Economic Strategy are implemented,” Cllr Declan Bree stated during the presentation made to the Taoiseach. The delegation pointed out that the Northern and Western region now ranked 218th out of 234 regions in terms of infrastructure in the 27 countries which make up the European Union…