Pringle cites funding needed for Donegal projects in his concerns over Appropriation Bill
- Updated: 14th December 2022
Independent TD for Donegal, Thomas Pringle, highlighted Donegal capital projects awaiting Government funding as he expressed his concerns with the Appropriation Bill.
Addressing the Dáil on Tuesday evening, Deputy Pringle said he understood the constitutional requirement for the bill but did not fully support certain spending in the legislation as well as the lack of spending in some important areas.
Deputy Pringle said: “I am concerned about the lack of capital funding, particularly in my constituency of Donegal.
“There are various projects we hoped to see progressed in the county but sadly very little has been happening. For example, the Fintra bridge development in Killybegs, which will include a new bridge across the Fintra river, a pedestrian and cycle route and road realignment works. Although we are finally seeing some progression on this, the development has been a long time coming and is moving along at snail’s pace.”
He said: “There are many areas in Killybegs that are in desperate need of funding and development, such as the Community Hospital. Killybegs is an example, but it goes right across the county as well.”
The deputy said: “Killybegs and the surrounding areas are also experiencing a severe lack of gardaí and Garda vehicles. It is important that gardaí are around and available in our rural communities and much of Donegal has been let down in this aspect.
“Quite often gardaí are not available in the southwest area until 7pm and when they are on duty, there are only two gardaí covering a large area between Killybegs, Kilcar, Ardara and Glenties where you have one garda on duty in Killybegs, and one garda on duty in Glenties and no squad car between the two of them.”
He said the Donegal Joint Policing Committee recently heard of the removal of 16 gardaí from the Donegal Divisional Drugs Unit, reducing numbers from 21 to 5 within a year. The unit has also been left without an unmarked car, he said.
Deputy Pringle said: “This government has failed to deliver for the people of Donegal in areas such as these, time and time again.”
The deputy said Donegal is also in need of funding to address the huge list for Local Improvement Schemes.
Deputy Pringle said: “The recent reports of an underspend of nearly €500 million of the Government’s housing budget is shocking and completely unacceptable in the midst of a housing crisis. I have constituent after constituent coming into me with concerns regarding housing, including mica, the years long waiting list for social housing, the lack of rentals in Donegal and the inability to buy a house.”
The deputy said: “To conclude, I support this bill on the basis that it is necessary legislation to provide money and resources that are required to run our public services, but I would again like to emphasise that I do not agree with the allocation of a lot of the spending detailed in this legislation and I completely condemn the underspending trend that we have been seeing in recent years, particularly in the area of housing. There is no excuse for it, and it needs to end today.”
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