Charles Ward raises ‘awful state’ of Donegal roads in the Dáil

Deputy Charles Ward has raised the ‘awful state’ of Donegal roads with the Minister for Rural and Community Affairs and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary in the Dáil.

The 100% Redress TD said many rural roads in the country are in “urgent need of upgrading, particularly in the Inishowen and Glenties areas”.

The Donegal TD submitted a question to Minister Calleary and Minister of State Jerry Buttimer on whether they plan to review the Local Improvement Scheme during their Government’s term.

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Mr Ward claims that the LIS, as it currently stands, is wholly inadequate to address the scale of infrastructure deficits in rural Donegal.

In reply, Mr Buttimer stated: “Scheme funding is allocated on a local authority basis and local authorities themselves decide on allocations across their areas” - but he indicated that his department would engage further with Donegal County Council on the issue.

Deputy Ward added: “Donegal must be prioritised. There are hundreds of people in my constituency who have been on the LIS waiting list for years.“Rural and Gaeltacht communities in Donegal are dying. We are forcing people to move to urban centres and leave rural Ireland behind.”