ROI roads better then North

darkman2

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1507-2200502-3048,00.html

Seems our Unionist friends are at last able to concede that the massive investment in our roads infrastructure is leaving them behind. Of course he is a bit of a hypocrit talking about the EU funding roads to the border. It was Unionists who refused in the 60s and 70s to build their motorways to the border (note both motorways are east - west in direction). Now they claim they are at an economic disadvantage.

As for his coment on EU cohesion funds they only fund a small fraction of the roads budget, I dont think that road projects are getting this funding anymore.

nordydan

Interesting comments from DUP councillors. It'll still be a cold day in hell before they praise the south without getting a dig in somewhere but the comments by the bus driver about the road from lifford to auchnacloy. When the road from N of emyvale to monaghan is built the part in the north will be the bottleneck. Time to build a DC from S of aughnacloy to N of omagh and perhaps both governments could fund the road.

Yeah the road network in the north is a stinking reminder of the past sins of stormont. in the 60's they were trying to promote coleraine and kill off derry, hence the m2 to coleraine, University of Ulster in coleraine and substandard road to derry when other places ie craigavon are well served. Rural roads up here are almost as bad as down south still, but then again the population density is much higher, a point which others conveniently miss.

smashey

darkman2 wrote:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,1-1507-2200502-3048,00.html

Seems our Unionist friends are at last able to concede that the massive investment in our roads infrastructure is leaving them behind. Of course he is a bit of a hypocrit talking about the EU funding roads to the border. It was Unionists who refused in the 60s and 70s to build their motorways to the border (note both motorways are east - west in direction). Now they claim they are at an economic disadvantage.

As for his coment on EU cohesion funds they only fund a small fraction of the roads budget, I dont think that road projects are getting this funding anymore.

Note to Darkman,

If you leave Belfast and go directly west, you will get to the border south of Lifford. Remember, the Border extends far beyond Dundalk/Newry.

darkman2

Hi ND, I actually really doubt (given the massive subsidy in the north) that the (UK) government would invest much more in a serious road infrastructure. I would support joint funding.

darkman2

smashey wrote:

Note to Darkman,

If you leave Belfast and go directly west, you will get to the border south of Lifford. Remember, the Border extends far beyond Dundalk/Newry.

Yes but the economic powerhouse of this Island is Dublin. No point building a motorway to Lifford IMO (not that Liffords a bad place, it just dosnt have critical mass):)

nordydan

Given the new council plans, west of the bann in the north will undoubtedly fall under the republics spatial strategy. Unionists already have all the roads they need, with the odd lane/junction upgrade here and there. Were they planning for possible repartition??? hard to be sure but take a population distribution map and overlay it on a roads map.....
the brits are pulling out it would appear, everything seems on the long foot and there could be the N2 running through omagh soon enough!

one cross border road seldom planned for the the N12/A3 monaghan armagh road, a twisty and windy road with no upgrade in sight.

nordydan

note original motorway plans

murphaph

Any notion of the RoI funding or part funding roads in NI is crazy quite frankly. NI is part of a G8 nation and if they don't want to fund it themselves then that's that.

We are hardly some benovelent gul state, rich in oil wealth just aching to give it away. We have plenty of sh!tty roads left in the south to upgrade and repair before we start giving our cash away!

Many rural roads in NI are in far better shape than down here, with generally good maintenance regimes and decent signage. We would do well to learn the basics of road maintenance from the Roads Service of NI before we get too carried away with how great we are with all our grand motorways (and many tolls).

darkman2

murphaph wrote:

Any notion of the RoI funding or part funding roads in NI is crazy quite frankly. NI is part of a G8 nation and if they don't want to fund it themselves then that's that.

We are hardly some benovelent gul state, rich in oil wealth just aching to give it away. We have plenty of sh!tty roads left in the south to upgrade and repair before we start giving our cash away!

Many rural roads in NI are in far better shape than down here, with generally good maintenance regimes and decent signage. We would do well to learn the basics of road maintenance from the Roads Service of NI before we get too carried away with how great we are with all our grand motorways (and many tolls).

You make it sound like I rarely cross the border. I disagree with every point you made. They are as Irish up there as you or me and if they require or want assistance then we will give it to them. Why would you have a problem with that. We give .5 per cent of our GDP away to 3rd world countries every year. If they want a proper road network we should help fund it.

I dont have to remind you surely re your point about being part of a G8 state. The same state that has declared no economic interest in Northern Ireland. The same sate that has to bare an increasing subsidy of almost 7 billion pound sterling a year.

darkman2

nordydan wrote:

note original motorway plans

Pigs would have flown first before the Unionist dominated government built a motorway south to the border mate;)

mysterious

darkman2 wrote:

You make it sound like I rarely cross the border. I disagree with every point you made. They are as Irish up there as you or me and if they require or want assistance then we will give it to them. Why would you have a problem with that. We give .5 per cent of our GDP away to 3rd world countries every year. If they want a proper road network we should help fund it.

I dont have to remind you surely re your point about being part of a G8 state. The same state that has declared no economic interest in Northern Ireland. The same sate that has to bare an increasing subsidy of almost 7 billion pound sterling a year.

I actually agree with Murphaph. Just because we have a few Motorways here and there dosn't mean we are now an inspiration:p Motorways in this country is still a relatively new phenomenon. funny saying that.. But it's true. Why boast about our roads

The roads in the North are still better.


On his last point I say he's probably right about our state is partly funding the new A1 border link, well two thirds of it is in ours and the route will be exactly the same at either end, the North end will be a dissgrace as it will end up on busy roundabout...

The bottom line is the A1 was never on the agenda afther 30 years they finally started to Dual the the A1, not only this, the route is underfunded and is low quality dual carrigway, for years the M1 got all the attention Enniskillen was more in need of a motorway linked to Belfast than Dublin to Belfast. why on earth would they build a a mile stretch of crappy dual road every few kilometres look at Beechill it's madness?

The newry bypass is funny that, the A1 was never dualled and the less important A2(sencondary classed road and less traffic) got dualled around the time the A1 bypass was built. interesting?

Now if the North was to build it's own section of the new A1. I'm nearly certain in my opinion that our state had given money, It's believable,

Also for the size of the province and comparing it to the size of our state, It's obvious the North has a higher concentration of roads and motorways.

well that's my rant over.

darkman2

mysterious wrote:

I actually agree with Murphaph. Just because we have a few Motorways here and there dosn't mean we are now an inspiration:p Motorways in this country is still a relatively new phenomenon. funny saying that.. But it's true. Why boast about our roads

The roads in the North are still better.


On his last point I say he's probably right about our state is partly funding the new A1 border link, well two thirds of it is in ours and the route will be exactly the same at either end, the North end will be a dissgrace as it will end up on busy roundabout...

The bottom line is the A1 was never on the agenda afther 30 years they finally started to Dual the the A1, not only this, the route is underfunded and is low quality dual carrigway, for years the M1 got all the attention Enniskillen was more in need of a motorway linked to Belfast than Dublin to Belfast. why on earth would they build a a mile stretch of crappy dual road every few kilometres look at Beechill it's madness?

The newry bypass is funny that, the A1 was never dualled and the less important A2(sencondary classed road and less traffic) got dualled around the time the A1 bypass was built. interesting?

Now if the North was to build it's own section of the new A1. I'm nearly certain in my opinion that our state had given money, It's believable,

Also for the size of the province and comparing it to the size of our state, It's obvious the North has a higher concentration of roads and motorways.

well that's my rant over.

The north has better roads then Connaught - so what? When I drive up there its like going back in time. The roads they did build have a serious maintenance problem, specifically the rediculous M1 to nowhere. Maybe the M1 should have been on the agenda to Dublin instead of stupid religious reasons for cocking up their network. It would be nice to see our effort on this side of the border recipricated instead of it turning into a cart track on the other side. Its in their interests to have proper links to the Eastern region of our jurisdiction, not in our interest.

murphaph

darkman2 wrote:

Its in their interests to have proper links to the Eastern region of our jurisdiction, not in our interest.

Then let them pay for it eh

You accept that NI has better roads than Connaught. So why should we divert our taxes (some raised in Connaught) to a foreign country when Connaught needs road improvements?

You'd swear we were dripping in money the way some people are talking. We've enough problems of our own to sort out.

smashey

While our roads are indeed getting better, this only seems to apply to the national primary roads. If you dare to take a regional/county road, heaven help you if you don't know the area. There are still a lot of 'B' roads in the north that are a lot better than quite a few main roads down South. Also, the fact that they are all named helps. Another thing that I notice a lot is that when Donegal Co. Council do any work on the roads, they insist on leaving those damned loose chippings on the surface. How come the same work can be carried out north of the border without these glass crackers?

darkman2

murphaph wrote:

Then let them pay for it eh

You accept that NI has better roads than Connaught. So why should we divert our taxes (some raised in Connaught) to a foreign country when Connaught needs road improvements?

You'd swear we were dripping in money the way some people are talking. We've enough problems of our own to sort out.

This country is awash with money. We have a surplus of 1 billion euro + every year. We already spend too much money on health, education and transport (total here of 32 billion). Add to that the 16 billion euro thats about to hit the economy and yes we are dripping in money. Any other European country would give their left arm to be in our economic posistion. Some ppl dont realise how good this country has it at the moment. Anyhow dont want to go off topic, I think we should jointly fund roads to the border.

nordydan

murphaph wrote:

So why should we divert our taxes (some raised in Connaught) to a foreign country when Connaught needs road improvements?

are you the murphaph that i saw posting on calton radio - the uber loyalist site??
whether you consider it foreign or not, the point would be that (as far as ballygawley to lifford is concerned) it would be of benefit to the economy of the republic (where according to you the true irishmen live).

re rural roads in the north, in certain areas they are not so bad, but in parts of tyrone they are as bad as those in the south. certain sections of the m1 also need touched up.

darkman2

nordydan wrote:

are you the murphaph that i saw posting on calton radio - the uber loyalist site??
whether you consider it foreign or not, the point would be that (as far as ballygawley to lifford is concerned) it would be of benefit to the economy of the republic (where according to you the true irishmen live).

re rural roads in the north, in certain areas they are not so bad, but in parts of tyrone they are as bad as those in the south. certain sections of the m1 also need touched up.

Good point, should have said something on that. I dont consider the North a 'country' never mind a 'foreign' entity:cool:

nordydan

good man yourself, watch out for those 'foreign' boys in red and black bringing sam back to the kingdom of mourne this september.

Maskhadov

The roads in the Republic of Ireland will be superior in another 10 years but not before then. The N2 is still a mess. That bypass of Monaghan is a bit of the pathetic side. North of Monaghan is a mess and they only started the CastleBlayney bypass. Its a bit early to rubbing the northerners nose in it.

But the UK government isnt spending the same amount of money in the north as they used to. There will be an obvious gulf as time progresses

murphaph

darkman2 wrote:

This country is awash with money. We have a surplus of 1 billion euro + every year. We already spend too much money on health, education and transport (total here of 32 billion). Add to that the 16 billion euro thats about to hit the economy and yes we are dripping in money. Any other European country would give their left arm to be in our economic posistion. Some ppl dont realise how good this country has it at the moment. Anyhow dont want to go off topic, I think we should jointly fund roads to the border.

Catch yerself on would ya! Is that why people are on trollies for 16 hrs+ in A&E, why women were queuing overnight to register kids in a Swords school last week and why tens of thousands of folks sit in gridlock everyday? And you want to send money generated in this state to part of another? :rolleyes:

Navan Junction

murphaph wrote:

why should we divert our taxes (some raised in Connaught) to a foreign country

The more high quality roads that cross the border, the better.

Stick a toll on the new cross border projects every 15 miles - just like on the M3 in Meath.

murphaph

nordydan wrote:

are you the murphaph that i saw posting on calton radio - the uber loyalist site??

One and the same. Quite what relevenace that has to this threadis beyond me. I take it you just lurk on the site and don't post.

nordydan wrote:

whether you consider it foreign or not, the point would be that (as far as ballygawley to lifford is concerned) it would be of benefit to the economy of the republic (where according to you the true irishmen live).

I never said anything about true irishmen or anything like it. Perhaps you're confusing my assertion that NI is in the UK (one of the 8 wealthiest nations on earth) with something else? The economy of the south would benefit relatively little from paying for road improvements in the north, particularly on stretches in what are relatively (economically speaking) quiet areas. Donegal itself is a relatively minor component in the economy of this state. That's just a fact. Do I want us to stop funding roads IN Donegal? No way. Do I want to pay for roads to/from Donegal through part of a G8 nation? hell no.

You'd swear trade with NI west of the Bann was absolutley essential to the economy of this country. That simply isn't the case so priorities lie elsewhere.

Maskhadov

we need ot match our health spending with reform otherwise we might as well thow the money into a furnance

murphaph

Navan Junction wrote:

It's not a foreign country - it's ruled by a foreign government

It's the UK. Last time I checked anyway.

The rest of your post is clearly driven by your political beliefs which is fair enough, I just don't fancy subsidising roads in the UK when we have major social and infrastructural problems of our own.

I'm all for cross border projects such as the A1/N1 links scheme. Such schemes make absolute sense. The bit on our side was paid for by our taxes and the bit on their side was paid for by UK taxes (and EU funding for both sides). I'd be totally opposed to actually paying for their tarmac too though!!

Navan Junction

I just don't see a them and us.

Ok, question. If you were to travel to letterkenny how would you travel in terms of roqads used?

murphaph

Navan Junction wrote:

As is yours...:) I just don't see a them and us.

That's fair enough. But there is an 'economic' them and us which you have to accept. Their taxes go to Gordon Brown's purse. Ours go to Brian Cowen's.

Navan Junction wrote:

Ok, question. If you were to travel to letterkenny how would you travel in terms of roqads used?

Without looking at a map I would assume I'd traverse roads in Northern Ireland. What's your point though? Each country in the EU has an onus to look after its own infrastructure. Many trips in the EU require travel through foreign states, we don't see all these nations funding other nations roads in an ad-hoc manner though. The EU identifies the crucial E routes and these are eligable for EU-wide funding.

Navan Junction wrote:

Try telling that to nearly half the population of the statelet that was designed to maximise territory and population whilst maintaining a majority of sympathisers.

In fairness, if the boundary commision had acted on national affiliation, there would only be 2.5 counties in 'Northern Ireland'. And all of the road to Donegal from Dublin would be in the 'republic'.

That's all as maybe. The past is the past and the current borders are the reality.

markf909

Lads this is a strange argument. The funding for roads in Northern Ireland comes from London. Simple as that whatever political beliefs you may have. I wouldn't want my taxes paying for a road in Hampshire, Bedfordshire, Antrim and or anywhere else in the UK.

mackerski

mysterious wrote:

The newry bypass is funny that, the A1 was never dualled and the less important A2(sencondary classed road and less traffic) got dualled around the time the A1 bypass was built. interesting?

I'm a bit confused by what you mean here. What most people mean by the Newry bypass is the recently completed part that runs from the roundabout at the railway line and up the west of the city. The stretch of A2 from Newry to Warrenpoint (which I'm assuming is the stretch you mean) is a very great deal older, and isn't of a lower classification than the A1 (though much of the rest of the A2 is).

The reason that part of the A2 got dualled so early relates to old plans for an upgrade to Warrenpoint port. More...

Dermot

darkman2

murphaph wrote:

Catch yerself on would ya! Is that why people are on trollies for 16 hrs+ in A&E, why women were queuing overnight to register kids in a Swords school last week and why tens of thousands of folks sit in gridlock everyday? And you want to send money generated in this state to part of another? :rolleyes:

We spend 13 billion euro a year on health, 50% more per head then the UK. We spend too much money on it as far as Im concerned. Its work practices that need to change. A&E is only a small part of the health service.

I am a nationalist and as such I do not share your views in relation to the north.

nordydan

Murphaph, there is not much wrong with looking at a site without posting on it. Lurking is not the word at all. I was simply pointing out that you made a big issue about mine and others political beliefs whereas yours seem to the most extreme of all. You're entitled to them of course, but just seems a little bit hypocritical thats all.

Stating that NI is in the UK is the reality of today. To say its some alien foreign country is a little bit childish to be honest.

"That's all as maybe. The past is the past and the current borders are the reality."

Not as simple as that. The parts of the north served by the N2/A5 would certainly contain a majority of people who are more dublin focused than london focused.
the point I made is that for the benefit of Donegal people, the roads in co tyrone need to be upgraded. Not funding them because they are in the north seems to be cutting off your nose to spite your face. Also 1/3 of trade in NI is with the south. Big market there. Just some economic arguments for the free state to think about.

Re: the A2, yes it was built to facilitate the port of warrenpoint, not connected to the A1. the fact it stops a mile short of newry may indicate that there was some early plans at a newry bypass.

bk

I can't believe anyone in the south would want to spend a cent on roads in the North.

They don't pay taxes to the Irish government, therefore they don't get anything from us, simple as that. If they decide to join us some day, then sure, we will help out. But at the moment they pay their taxes to the UK government, so it is up to them to finance the roads in the North.

Certainly we can work on cross border projects, but we pay for our part and they pay for theirs, simple as that.

bk

nordydan wrote:

Also 1/3 of trade in NI is with the south. Big market there. Just some economic arguments for the free state to think about.

That just means they need us more then we need them, if they want to keep up that trade they will need to invest in their own infrastructure.

murphaph

darkman2 wrote:

We spend 13 billion euro a year on health, 50% more per head then the UK. We spend too much money on it as far as Im concerned.

Riiiight, and you want to cut that spending and divert it to Northern Ireland, right? I'm glad you aren't minister for finance anyway

darkman2 wrote:

I am a nationalist and as such I do not share your views in relation to the north.

I really don't care about your political aspirations even though they differ from mine. I do care about where my taxes go. I do NOT want MY taxes being donated to a part of a G8 member state, thank you very much.

murphaph

nordydan wrote:

Murphaph, there is not much wrong with looking at a site without posting on it. Lurking is not the word at all. I was simply pointing out that you made a big issue about mine and others political beliefs whereas yours seem to the most extreme of all. You're entitled to them of course, but just seems a little bit hypocritical thats all.

I didn't make a big deal about your political beliefs at all, perhaps you could find a quote where I did so. I'd also love to hear what these extreme beliefs are. You lurk on a loyalist site. I just go that step further and engage in debate with them. You may consider it extremist not to want NI in the republic but believe me, it's not minority view in many parts.

nordydan wrote:

Stating that NI is in the UK is the reality of today. To say its some alien foreign country is a little bit childish to be honest.

I never mentioned the word "alien" in this thread. You made that bit up yourself

nordydan wrote:

"That's all as maybe. The past is the past and the current borders are the reality."

Not as simple as that. The parts of the north served by the N2/A5 would certainly contain a majority of people who are more dublin focused than london focused.

And there are a lot of people living along the Pyrenees on the french side who are more Barcelona focused than Paris focused. They wouldn't expect Spain to build their roads for them though.

nordydan wrote:

the point I made is that for the benefit of Donegal people, the roads in co tyrone need to be upgraded. Not funding them because they are in the north seems to be cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Not really. Donegal isn't a net contributor to the economy. It is another subsidised county (along with all of Connaught, the other two Ulster counties and much of Munster). If Donegal had some precious natural resource that we needed to get to Dublin, then I might see your point, but it doesn't.

nordydan wrote:

Also 1/3 of trade in NI is with the south. Big market there. Just some economic arguments for the free state to think about.

We're their biggest trading partner. They are not ours. That means they should be paying for OUR roads if anything!!!

nordydan

"I didn't make a big deal about your political beliefs at all, perhaps you could find a quote where I did so. I'd also love to hear what these extreme beliefs are. You lurk on a loyalist site. I just go that step further and engage in debate with them. You may consider it extremist not to want NI in the republic but believe me, it's not minority view in many parts."

Lurking my lad. Am i obliged to post on every forum i look at?? i am aware that it is not a minority view in many parts, but in ireland it generally is.

Lennoxschips

it would be funny though, if there were motorways in NI with "This road was 83% funded by the Republic of Ireland" just like those EU & NDP funding signs we have all over the place.

mysterious

Lennoxschips wrote:

it would be funny though, if there were motorways in NI with "This road was 83% funded by the Republic of Ireland" just like those EU & NDP funding signs we have all over the place.

As Ireland's most famous and best built road is the M1

Many forget it was funded almost entirely by the EU
It seems to make sense that it is so splendid:D

smashey

murphaph wrote:

Not really. Donegal isn't a net contributor to the economy. It is another subsidised county (along with all of Connaught, the other two Ulster counties and much of Munster). If Donegal had some precious natural resource that we needed to get to Dublin, then I might see your point, but it doesn't.

We might not be a net contributor, but as we live in a democracy and pay the same taxes as the rest of the country, then we are entitled to our share of the pie as such. It is this kind of attitude towards Donegal that has left us on the fringes, moreso than our location, and very much the forgotten county.

mysterious

smashey wrote:

We might not be a net contributor, but as we live in a democracy and pay the same taxes as the rest of the country, then we are entitled to our share of the pie as such. It is this kind of attitude towards Donegal that has left us on the fringes, moreso than our location, and very much the forgotten county.

Let's get back to the topic because it's esculating.

So let's compare N. Ire M1 to our own:D
kidding, It has being yonks since i was on the lisburn section.
Btw will the A1 Slips get a dedicated slips lanes under the M1 as the A1 carries just as musch traffic as the M1...

Fool 5000

A bit of sexual tension here?

murphaph

smashey wrote:

We might not be a net contributor, but as we live in a democracy and pay the same taxes as the rest of the country, then we are entitled to our share of the pie as such. It is this kind of attitude towards Donegal that has left us on the fringes, moreso than our location, and very much the forgotten county.

Smashey, you do indeed live in the same democratic country as me and Donegal is entitled to it's fair share of the national pie. I simply don't believe in spending part if that pie on roads in NI because they happen to connect to Donegal. I can't see how Donegal is the "forgotten county" though. You do receive quite a bit more in total government spending than you generate in tax revenues remember! That money comes from counties like mine which also have major infrastructural defecits (see my post about lack of school places in Swords, the county town of Fingal!).

darkman2

mysterious wrote:

As Ireland's most famous and best built road is the M1

Many forget it was funded almost entirely by the EU
It seems to make sense that it is so splendid:D

The M1 was almost entirely funded by the tax payer not the EU. The EU, for all the signs, contributed a small minority of the funding.

Come Nov 24th we may well be looking at a brand new scenario akin to joint sovereignty in all but name. I would welcome joint funding between the Irish and British governments under this arangment for a new roads program in the North (amongst other things). The EU can pitch in too.

smashey

murphaph wrote:

I simply don't believe in spending part if that pie on roads in NI because they happen to connect to Donegal.

Just a thought, but up until the Good Friday Agreement, didn't we lay claim to the North? I know it has been amended since.

Anyway, there seems to be a fair bit of co-operation, as the Roads Services (NI) constructed a new by-pass in Strabane about three years ago and have a roundabout in place that will connect to the new Lifford-Letterkenny road.

nordydan

darkman2 wrote:

The M1 was almost entirely funded by the tax payer not the EU. The EU, for all the signs, contributed a small minority of the funding.

Come Nov 24th we may well be looking at a brand new scenario akin to joint sovereignty in all but name. I would welcome joint funding between the Irish and British governments under this arangment for a new roads program in the North (amongst other things). The EU can pitch in too.

Effectively the part of NI served by the N2/A5 (west of the bann as they say) will come more and more under dublin's sphere of influence that that of london's.

Yes the claim was dropped after the GFA. In relation to donegal the forgotten county, this was the point that i was trying to make. It is more in the irish governemnt's interest than that of the brits to upgrade the A5. There is a plan to upgrade the road from monaghan to the border. For another few miles the route could be extended to ballygawley. this would certainly be of benefit to donegal commuters, who through no fault fo their own are almost cut off from the rest of the republic.

Navan Junction

murphaph wrote:

Without looking at a map I would assume I'd traverse roads in Northern Ireland. What's your point though?

My point is that ignoring the bits between Donegal and Cavan/Monaghan etc is to cut off your nose to spite your face (not you personally, I mean in policy terms).

Donegal needs that access and ignoring that section makes no sense as it is in the interest of the Irish state to make Donegal accessible.

nordydan

Navan Junction wrote:

And sure, won't whatever is built in the 'foreign' stretch become 'ours' eventually anyhow?

yes it will. it will indeed.

murphaph

Navan Junction wrote:

My point is that ignoring the bits between Donegal and Cavan/Monaghan etc is to cut off your nose to spite your face (not you personally, I mean in policy terms).

Donegal needs that access and ignoring that section makes no sense as it is in the interest of the Irish state to make Donegal accessible.

And sure, won't whatever is built in the 'foreign' stretch become 'ours' eventually anyhow?

I'm not going to adress the future constitutional status of Northern Ireland in this forum. It's not the place. Suffice to say the position of NI within the UK seems certain for some time yet. Well beyond the remit of T21 anyway.

Anyway, it's more in Donegal's interest to have upgraded roads access than the entire irish state. We don't build superhighways to every corner of the island just because the people there might like them. We build what's appropriate for the economy and people there. Hell, there are still going to be towns through which the N11/N25 runs through and that's E01 guys!!!

road_high

Just read the unionist 'praise' of our road network down here!!
As usual they are deluding themselves implying that EU cohesion somehow miraculously payed for all our ongoing (still s***loads to be done of course) road improvements...Am no actually its the republics glowing economy and burgeoning private sector that has and will pay for this.

Are we net contributors to the EU yet or has that happened yet??Somehow doubt NI and the unionist bloodsuckers will be as quick to point that one out!
And we will continue to forge ahead of them and their inwardlooking, post-British Empire longing for the good old days of gerrymandering mentality- they have held the north back for generations, now its plain for all to see.

dermo88

Speaking of the roads deficit in Northern Ireland, I noticed the 1964 Map of the Northern Ireland proposed motorway network.

The Unionist Government promised to build the motorway to Omagh before closing the Portadown to Derry railway,.

Virtually everything west of the Bann was neglected.

If they want funding, get the Orange Order out as slave labour to rebuild the railway network they destroyed. Use their coffins as sleepers to carry the track.

There would be no doubt that it would be the best built railway in the European Union.

nordydan

dermo88 wrote:

The Unionist Government promised to build the motorway to Omagh before closing the Portadown to Derry railway.

Yes what that says it all, as you will notice the unionists have never had any intention of developing nationalist areas. The current road map says it all. Disgraceful.

bazzer06

mfitzy wrote:

Are we net contributors to the EU yet or has that happened yet??Somehow doubt NI and the unionist bloodsuckers will be as quick to point that one out!

yes as of 2005 we are net contributos to the EU.

And in response to the constant references to the UK as a G8 nation - yes at the moment the UK is one of the 8 largest economies in the world (however this is a bit outdated dont ya think considering China is now in the top ten and russia has sunk to 15). The fact is that Irish people are earning €10,000 more per head than British are now - which means, G8 or not, we have a lot more money per head to spend!

That's just a point of information though, I don't see any sense in us developing another country's roads (coz lets face it, that's what NI is!). Since when did sectarianism come into the (usually) intelligent conversations on this board?? Can we not all just get over it?