Manus Boyle (Fine Gael)

The Minister of State is welcome.

I tabled a Commencement matter about this but I did not get it through yet. To add to what my fellow Senator said, the A5 is a big disappointment to us in Donegal. For decades, we have been waiting for it. We are really isolated in Donegal and we thought this was the way forward. I attended the football game a few Saturdays ago when Donegal and Tyrone were playing. I was inundated with people asking me what will we do and how we can fix the A5. From when I was a child, all I have heard about is the A5. People have to realise that people who come from rural parts of Donegal have no other access except through the A5 and that area coming into Tyrone. It is crucial for us to move forward. We have to rescue it, however it is done.

Whoever dropped the ball on this dropped it big time. What will happen to the Ten T project in Donegal, which includes the Ballybofey-Stranorlar bypass, the Letterkenny-Lifford road and the Bonagee link? Can they progress or are they stalled now too? This has a big knock-on effect on a rural county such as Donegal. The Minister of State knows County Donegal well and is due to visit in the next few weeks. I cannot understand why this is not going ahead. We have been waiting for this for 40 years. Who dropped the ball? Was it the Irish Government or the Northern Government? Whoever did needs to stand up and be accountable.

On another matter, I thank the Government for the Local Link. The service is going well in Donegal and we are appreciative of it, but there are places that need to be added to it. Towns such as Ardara, Glenties and Portnoo need a daily service. Once a day is of no benefit. Pockets have been left behind such as Mountcharles and Doorian, my area and places around Gaoth Dobhair. Will the Minister of State have a look at them and see what he can do?