|
Donegal County
Council will shortly undertake a €25,000 feasibility
study on a future rail network for the county.
Sinn Fein said it was delighted the local authority
was, in the coming months, to implement a proposal
set down by the party and agreed by councillors last
year.
Cllr. Padraig MacLochlainn and his colleague Cllr.
Pearse Doherty will now seek an early meeting with
the North’s Minister for Regional Development
designate, their colleague, Conor Murphy MP, to
discuss the county’s future transport needs.
The party said it had been consistently driving the
demand for a rail network in the county both at
Donegal local authority and national level.
“As a result of an initiative by Sinn Féin last
year, Donegal County Council agreed to conduct major
research on the prospects for a railway network.
This resulted in a financial commitment by the
Council to conduct a full-scale feasibility study,
within the terms of the Council’s 2007 annual
budget.
“I have now been informed that Council officials
believe the full feasibility study should cost in
the region of €25,000 and is being undertaken in
coming months,” confirmed Cllr. Doherty.
“This is a significant development, because it will
ensure future planning for a railway network in
Donegal and indeed throughout the North West, can
take place in the context of detailed knowledge and
realistic expectations.”
Cllr. Doherty added: “100 years ago, Donegal
actually had a full railway network which connected
communities.
“In the interests of accessible, affordable
transport to benefit the public and the economy of
Donegal in the future, we will continue to
vigorously pursue the demand for a railway network
in the time ahead."
|
