Mc Conalogue, Mc Hugh and Byrne meet to show united front on A5

Two Donegal North East TDs have combined with a West Tyrone MLA in a bid to ensure that the pressure is kept on both governnments to deliver the A5 upgrade.
Fine Gael’s Joe Mc Hugh and Fianna Fail’s Charlie Mc Conalogue met with the SDLP’s Joe Byrne in Strabane last night and pledged to keep a united front on the issue.
Joe Byrne says while Deputies Mc Conalogue and Mc Hugh are pursuing the issue in the Dail, he’ll be keeping up the pressure in the Assembly……..


 
The statement in full
“UNITED WE STAND” on the A5 road…

 

Claim MLA Byrne and Donegal TD’s…
Joe Byrne SDLP MLA for West Tyrone hosted a meeting in Strabane on Thursday evening to discuss issues surrounding the construction of the A5 WTC road through the North West. Attending the meeting were TD’s, Joe McHugh (FG) of Donegal North East and Charlie McConalogue (FF) also from Donegal North East.
The purpose of this meeting was to agree on a joint approach in continuing with an intensive lobby to get the A5 roads project started as soon as possible. Joe Byrne said, “For the last ten days I have been in touch with many politicians on both sides of the border and with many Government officials in the North and South regarding this project. This roads project is the most important capital investment infrastructure scheme for the people of Donegal, Derry and Tyrone”.
This jointly funded project is the most significant economic project resulting from cross border Co-Operation arising from the Good Friday Agreement and the Saint Andrews Talks.
Deputy McHugh confirmed that he has formally contacted the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Mr. Pat Colgan from the SEUPB (Special EU Programmes Body) in his capacity as co chair of the British/Irish Parliamentary Assembly, with support from Padraig MacLochlain TD.
Charlie McConalogue said, “I would like to thank Joe Byrne for organising the meeting and for his approach to ensuring the A5 project continues according to the original plans. It is absolutely crucial at this stage in my view that the project can start and that the Northern Executive funds remain committed to it so that the Irish Government can match the funding, albeit over a longer time scale”.
In conclusion Joe Byrne said “This project is the acid test for North/South cross border co-operation of a practical and meaningful level for the people of the North West. Finally, the Northern Ireland Executive must not divert the earmarked capital funds for the A5 project to other parts of the North. This road is crucial for the future economic development of the North West”.

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