Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Finance, Deputy Pearse Doherty, today questioned the failure to deliver a new ferry to service Tory island.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Dara Calleary, agreed to visit Magheraroarty pier later in the summer and meet with Deputy Doherty to discuss the matter further.
“It was a commitment that was given by the government in 2018, that a new ferry would be provided. It was supposed to be delivered within three years,” Deputy Doherty said.
“There is no ferry and no plans for a ferry coming anytime soon. Now, there is a condition saying that it is attached to a pier. This should never have been the case. There are ferries going in and out of Magheraroarty Pier all the time.
He went on to tell Minister Calleary the government needed to deliver on the commitment.
“It’s 8 years on and that ferry is nowhere to be seen,” continued Deputy Doherty.
“It’s nowhere in the planning stages. It’s nowhere in the design stages.
“And what we heard from your predecessor was that now ‘we aren’t actually moving ahead with that at the minute. We are still committed to it, but the reason we aren’t moving ahead with it is because we have to do work at Magheraroarty’.”
Deputy Doherty said the point in relation to Magheraroarty is ‘completely separate’.
“The ferry service that you have outlined to the Dáil there, operates from Magheraroarty.
“A brand new state-of-the-art ferry can also operate from there,” he added.
“I want to ask you, is your department committed to the proposal you put to the island in 2018 to deliver that and will you uncouple it with Magheraroarty and deliver on this project?”
Deputy Doherty also welcomed the commitment the Minister has given to come to Donegal and meet with himself and representatives of the community on Tory Island.
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