Seanad debates

Thursday, 14 October 2010

National Spatial Strategy Report: Statements

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Cecilia KeaveneyCecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I wish to add my tuppence-worth to this important debate. I am surprised many of us rural Senators are not beating down the doors to challenge the Dublin Senators. The debate has highlighted the difference between the situation as it was and as it is now. I do not believe there is a difference. The goal of the national spatial strategy was to spread the development and increase the economic potential of the country in a fairer way in order that all the island would benefit from development rather than having everything centralised in Dublin, Cork, Galway or any of the other major towns that are always mentioned as being south of the Dublin to Galway line. Those of us in Donegal were quite excited to see there would be a real gateway and an aspiration - it is important to aspire to a goal - for a Derry to Letterkenny axis. This would have stopped all the nonsense that prevented common sense from intervening as it would ignore the Border in the interests of common sense, economic, health and infrastructural development. This is still as aspirational as it was in 2002 and perhaps even in 1902. Some have been quite negative in saying nothing has happened since. I believe there have been achievements in my area of the north west.

I note the level of co-operation in the development of North-South partnerships within the North-South Ministerial Council. This day last week I attended the first North-South parliamentary forum in Newcastle, County Down. Members of the Legislative Assembly from all parties met Members of the Oireachtas and discussed sensible issues such as agriculture, the impact of Europe and grassroots issues which are very important to our areas. It was very satisfying to note that reality was breaking out. If we continue to develop plans and to act on these, our self belief and status will improve and there will be less attention paid to those who seek to destabilise the current peace process. The spatial strategy and the development of that corridor from Letterkenny to Derry is very important.

Senator Hannigan also alluded to the fact that decentralisation was the core of the national spatial strategy. If that was the case, we would not have had decentralisation in Buncrana. Between €27 million and €29 million was spent in Buncrana on a decentralised social welfare office which was a consolidation of the existing social welfare offices and which accommodated the Garda station. Some people might think I look as though I have been on a sun holiday, but I can confirm that my most recent sunburn occurred on Monday in Buncrana. We are optimistic people in County Donegal and things are not as bleak there as they seem to be in Dublin. The opening of the Garda station took place outside. The Garda band was there and the speeches took place outside. Our biggest problem was that anyone in short sleeves was sunburned. It is different up there and we aspire to keep it so.

Decentralisation has worked for us. It is a status symbol and has generated a sense of self-belief. We will use that as a catalyst to bring in other businesses. It is an important criterion when people consider investing in the area. We have Government jobs that have the potential to allow people to move back to Country Donegal or to come from outside the county to it. People have the potential to see their children enter the Civil Service and for them to have a career path in County Donegal. I welcome the fact that gateway funds will come back again. One can have plans and action but ultimately one needs funding to make matters realistic.

Other matters do not need money initially and much work can continue. I return to trying to get the north west kick-started more quickly. There is a north-west Milwaukee festival, a major event in Milwaukee that brings tens of thousands of people to the area. People from Milwaukee will be coming to the north west next year and the festival will be based between Donegal and Derry. We hope to bring in many tourists. Derry was announced as the stopover for the Clipper Round the World Race and it was also named as the city of culture for 2013. Such events mean we must work together as a gateway. We must be in a position to maximise the spin-off and overspill from these Derry events. Much planning must take place at village and town level. I have been working in my home town to galvanise people because many events are taking place but people must pull together to market the event. That filters up from the ground in the ability to say "Yes, we can", a phrase that is borrowed from Bob the Builder rather than President Barack Obama. That can influence Government so that when other funding is in place, we can get our share because we have identified priorities.

I welcome money for the county enterprise boards. Donegal County Enterprise Board received €170,000 and has identified the potential for 30 jobs. It is not a case of aspiring without something to underscore the aspiration. These are real jobs and I would like to think we will continue to be focused on how we deliver funding.

We still have issues with basic infrastructure such as water, sewerage and broadband. In my area we pay the television licence fee, but some do not receive coverage. It is fine to identify locations where there will be substantial investment, but we must continue the work done under the Department for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, as it was known, which was under the stewardship of Deputy Eamon Ó Cuív and is now led by Deputy Pat Carey. It is accepted that big money must go to the big locations but there has been some great activity in the rural communities in terms of work with CLÁR. Innovation and great foresight has taken place in this respect.

There is no place better to study for potential than the area between Donegal and Derry. There is great potential in health co-operation. We must keep telling people that County Donegal was always pulled into meetings when it seemed cross-Border funding was available. County Donegal was the notional co-signatory on many applications. Now, we are not the added other but are the co-financier, the co-decision maker and the people who drive the issue in a co-operative fashion. That is why it is important cancer services and health developments undertaken between Altnagelvin and Letterkenny are sold to the people as being of equal access rather than being accessible if there is spare capacity. Ministers have been saying this but they must continue to do so.

I welcome the access to the North provided by the N2 and A5. We do not have the motorway that everyone has but we have a dual carriageway and a commitment from the Government that it will continue to co-fund this development with the Executive in the North. I hope nothing will derail the process.

Speaking of derailing, I hope to see a direct train from Dublin to Derry. There is no reason a train should not run. The railway line is in place, as is the train service, but we need investment to upgrade the track from Coleraine to Derry. The public service obligation for the flight from Dublin to Derry is up for renewal, like every other public service obligation. If we are serious about the spatial strategy and intent on giving everyone a fair share on the island of Ireland, we need the public service obligation to be maintained at Derry Airport because between 48% and 52% of people using the airport are from Donegal. It is serving us very well.

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