TIME FOR NORTH ASSEMBLY TO STEP UP ON ULSTER CANAL SAYS MINISTER HUMPHREYS

Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD has challenged Northern Ireland First Minister Michelle O’Neill MLA to “show some interest” in the major cross-Border project currently underway to regenerate the Ulster Canal into a flagship tourism and recreation amenity. Speaking in Clones on Friday as she viewed water flowing in the canal at the location of the marina being developed in the town, Minister Humphreys made the point that all of the funding which had been committed to the project so far had been pledged by the Government in this jurisdiction.

The Minister, a passionate advocate of the project, called on the North’s political leaders to recognise the enormous cross-Border benefits that it could deliver and to take an active role in advancing the third phase of its development, which is set to get underway when the second phase works in Clones are completed at the end of the summer.

“A lot of people doubted we would ever get to the stage where we would see water in the Ulster Canal in Clones and I am so proud of all the progress we have…