TDs told they need to do more to push stalled N17 project

THE need to secure funding for the N17 project was stressed again this week by members of Sligo County Council as the project remains in limbo. Councillors agreed to seek a meeting with Minister Eamonn Ryan, but one councillor, Paul Taylor of Fianna Fáil was particularly direct in where he saw a lack of action: “Our TDs know the importance of this. They should be pushing it in the Dáil, it’s as simple as that. We are doing everything we can, it is so important to keep discussing it, but Jesus, let the TDs do their job for this region and that’s it, and if they don’t, they shouldn’t be there.”

At the end of a lengthy discussion on what one councillor described as the single most important piece of infrastructure for Sligo and the north west, the Chief Executive of Sligo County Council said there was a danger of “complicating” the issues; in his view the decision rested squarely with politicians and was a political decision: “This is such an important piece of infrastructure if Sligo is to develop as a regional growth centre. I think there is a danger of complicating the issue sometimes. This is a political decision, nothing more, nothing less - and it has to be dealt with.”

Recently there has been a focus for now on securing a relatively small amount of money (€2.5m) which is said to be imminent to ensure finance to continue planning and preparation works to be undertaken by the Sligo Design Office of SCC.

However, much bigger questions about the overall project’s future will be put to Environment Minister Eamonn Ryan if he agrees to a request from Sligo Cllr Marie Casserly to meet them.

At a recent meeting of Sligo County Council, she received full backing from Sligo County Council members when she asked for a meeting between the Minister and a delegation of Sligo and Mayo councillors to take place as a matter of urgency.

Both councils have a role in the ‘on hold’ project since Minister Ryan poured cold water on the scheme when he visited Sligo and indicated it was no longer a priority in his view. Proposing her motion, Cllr Casserly said the importance of holding a meeting between Minister Ryan and a delegation from Sligo and Mayo local authorities and various agencies ranging from Sligo Chamber to the ATU who need to be at the table when this meeting happens, could not be overemphasised.

She said they need to highlight the urgency of releasing capital funding to expedite the upgrade of the N17 is critical.

She said from so many perspectives the N17 must be upgraded, referring to the calls from business chambers and the need for safety reasons to have the road upgraded.

She said the recent change which had effectively put the project on hold is seen locally in Sligo as an example of the county being “downgraded and neglected”. To inject confidence in the region this is important, she added. Cllr Darragh Mulvey said there was more traffic on the N17 than the M4. People were aware of the huge volume of traffic using it and the chronic need for an upgrade.

“This is probably the most critical piece of infrastructure in the entire county,” Cllr Thomas Walsh said. Referencing Minister Ryan’s visit to Sligo where he rowed back on the N17 and Eastern Garavogue projects, he said he “caused uproar” with his comments which he added was “extremely disappointing”. He said this was a “Government decision” which needs the whole Cabinet to sign off on.

Cllr Thomas Healy said they should meet with their four TDs in Sligo-Leitrim.

Cllr Martin Connolly commented: “I support the call for a meeting with Minister Ryan, but if a meeting is convened, it won’t be a pleasant one.” Cllr Gerard Mullaney, cathaoirleach, said they should seek representatives from both councils as it would otherwise be too unwieldy.

Cllr Casserly stressed the need to have the various agencies involved in the project represented at a meeting with the Minister they were now agreeing to seek.

“This project must not go on the back burner, people in various agencies also feel very frustrated that their voices are not being heard either,” Cllr Casserly added.