Still no Minister visit as Letterkenny's traffic 'creates misery every day'

Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has expressed his anger at the continued refusal of the Minister for Transport to come to Donegal and meet with locally elected councillors.

Mac Lochlainn says Darragh O’Brien must learn firsthand about the serious traffic management crisis in Letterkenny impacting the people of Donegal and our visitors, and the proposed local roads infrastructure projects that can address this crisis.

Deputy Mac Lochlainn said: “This is the third time in recent months the Minister has failed to commit to this vital meeting. Twice in response to my parliamentary questions in November last year and January of this year and once in response to a request from the councillors in the Letterkenny Municipal District following the passing of a motion from my colleague, Gerry McMonagle.

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"Let’s be clear, the ongoing traffic crisis in Letterkenny is down to the long delays in receiving the financial support needed from our central government in Dublin. Over 15 years ago, Donegal County Council submitted the business plan for the Bonagee Link/ Letterkenny Relief Road. The then government kicked it to touch, and we have lost all of the years since without a digger in the soil.

“Letterkenny is the beating heart of Donegal’s economy and public services. These traffic bottlenecks create misery every day, not just for the people of Letterkenny but for people across Donegal and visitors to our county. We need urgency and an agreed funding plan from the government with clear timelines. We have lost enough time already due to indifference and bureaucracy”.  

He concluded:

“I am calling on the 13 government supporting councillors in Donegal to now demand that Minister O’ Brien comes to Donegal as requested. He can’t be allowed to walk away from his responsibilities any longer”.