Council seek to proceed with part of Ballybofey-Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy

Donegal County Council is seeking to proceed with part of the €10 million Ballybofey-Stranorlar Regeneration Strategy.

The project, which will see the old Ritz Cinema restored and a new multi-storey car park built behind the town's shopping centre, was launched four years ago.

In April 2023, it was announced that a lead architect and design team had been appointed. However, it has been beset with delays, mainly over an appeal against a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO), and a sod has yet to be turned.

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The matter was raised again at the meeting of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District (MD) by Councillor Patrick McGowan.

He said a letter should be sent to Minister for Rural & Community Development & the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary asking for his assistance in the first phase of the project going ahead.

“The Ritz Cinema element is long overdue, we need to put the pressure on”, he said. Fine Gael Councillor Martin Harley, added that the original €10 million allocation needed to be increased due to rising costs.

In response to Cllr McGowan’s question, he was informed that officials from the Department visited the county on 20th August and discussed this project, among others.

“Following those discussions, DRCDG are considering the council’s request to proceed to tender for the Ritz element of the project and it is expected that DRCDG will issue a decision on this shortly,” wrote the council’s Director of Service, Liam Ward.

“It is also noted that Minister Calleary has indicated that he intends to visit Donegal at some stage during the month of September which should afford an opportunity to discuss the Ritz project with him at that time should it be necessary”.

Under the circumstances, Mr Ward added, he felt it may be ‘premature’ to issue correspondence directly to the Minister at this time.