Paying for roads in the North

1huge1

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0122/1224288085970.html

TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen has reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to provide €480 million in funding to upgrade roads in Northern Ireland.

Mr Cowen made his pledge at the 11th plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council which was held at the NSMC’s new offices in Armagh city yesterday.

Mr Cowen led a delegation of five Ministers to the meeting which included Green Minister Eamon Ryan. First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness were accompanied by 11 Ministers from the Northern Executive, including two junior ministers. They represented all five parties in the Executive – the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party, the SDLP and Alliance.

The NSMC addressed a wide range of issues including historical child abuse, the economy, tourism, setting up a new satellite radiotherapy centre at Altnagelvin hospital in Derry, suicide prevention, reducing road deaths, research projects, illegal dumping, and animal health and welfare.

The issue of roads improvement recently triggered controversy when Dublin Labour TD Joe Costello warned that a new government involving Labour may not be able to afford helping finance road upgrades linking the Border with Donegal and improving access to Larne harbour in Co Antrim.

“The Irish Government remains fully committed to the A5 and A8 [roads] project,” said Mr Cowen. “We see this as a project of mutual benefit, opening up the northwest of the country for us. It involves a €480 million commitment and I am glad and proud to say that this Government, despite its difficulties, has not in any way compromised that commitment.”

DUP First Minister Mr Robinson said they discussed a wide range of matters of mutual interest. He said the meeting was very useful. “The inter-relationship of our two economies is something that is crucial for us,” he said.

Mr McGuinness said the Northern Executive would be able to learn from the experience in the Republic in its intention to establish an inquiry into child sexual abuse.

Just wanted to see the general oppinion on this.

Ok i'm all for integation between the reublic and the north of course, my mother is from Tyrone after all, but I really can't get my hear around this.

Obviously our finances are very limited at the moment and I find it crazy that we are actually going ahead with projects like this in the North, we can barely afford vital public services as it is here.

Also it really seems to be a one way stream, its all of our tax revenue heading up there, the North is part of the United Kingdom, an economy far larger than our own, yet I didn't see any of their funds helping the M50 upgrade and such, now I'm sure theres an argument that it benefits both sides of the border, such as in the North West, but at the same time we seem to be the only side that is at any bit of a disadvantage.

I'm not saying outright that I disagree with this, more so that I don't understand it.

Maybe someone else can shed some light on this.

Regards

smk89

In the past 2 months there have been countless "Should we take NI?" posts. So if you want us so bad, build our roads. bitch!

m@cc@

We give you Mary McAleese, you build our roads! Seems a fair trade.

mike65

The Irish Government remains fully committed to the A5 and A8 [roads] project

These roads are short cuts for traffic to Donegal and the Larne ferry I think, so its not so bad.

phasers

That depends, what do we get in return for it?

m@cc@

phasers wrote: »

That depends, what do we get in return for it?

Read the article.........

'linking the Border with Donegal and improving access to Larne harbour in Co Antrim'

johngalway

I can see how the radiotherapy centre in Derry and the Road access to Donegal is in the Republics interests. But, IMO, the rest is not and shouldn't be contributed to.

Son Of A Vidic

Why couldn't they spend that money on a Derry - Sligo - Galway - Limerick - Cork motorway? Motorway networks should be interlinking and strategically placed. That's unless you look at the incompetent Irish system of course.

phasers

m@cc@ wrote: »

Read the article.........

'linking the Border with Donegal and improving access to Larne harbour in Co Antrim'

No, that's the result of the roads being finished. That's not what we're getting in return, that's what we're paying for.

I want NI to invest in something down here. Make them buy us some trains or something.

mike65

They can fund the N25 New Ross bypass (euro route 30)

kraggy

1huge1 wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0122/1224288085970.html



Just wanted to see the general oppinion on this.

Ok i'm all for integation between the reublic and the north of course, my mother is from Tyrone after all, but I really can't get my hear around this.

Obviously our finances are very limited at the moment and I find it crazy that we are actually going ahead with projects like this in the North, we can barely afford vital public services as it is here.

Also it really seems to be a one way stream, its all of our tax revenue heading up there, the North is part of the United Kingdom, an economy far larger than our own, yet I didn't see any of their funds helping the M50 upgrade and such, now I'm sure theres an argument that it benefits both sides of the border, such as in the North West, but at the same time we seem to be the only side that is at any bit of a disadvantage.

I'm not saying outright that I disagree with this, more so that I don't understand it.

Maybe someone else can shed some light on this.

Regards

The difference is, the UK don't one day hope to take control of the Republic.

We'd like to one day take back the North. That's why it's being done.

tallaghtmick

building roads means we have easier access to iris robinson:pac:

Amazotheamazing

kraggy wrote: »

The difference is, the UK don't one day hope to take control of the Republic.

We'd like to one day take back the North. That's why it's being done.

What's this "we" business?

kraggy

Amazotheamazing wrote: »

What's this "we" business?

Not everyone individually. I mean the country as a whole.

Yes, I know there hasn't been a poll recenty, but I'd bet that the majority of the Republic would take back the North if it was possible to reattain it by peaceful means and with peaceful consequences.

If it became a realistic possibility, I reckon, after some reflection, that more than 50% of the people would decide to vote in favour of it.

m@cc@

kraggy wrote: »

Not everyone individually. I mean the country as a whole.

Yes, I know there hasn't been a poll recenty, but I'd bet that the majority of the Republic would take back the North if it was possible to reattain it by peaceful means and with peaceful consequences.

If it became a realistic possibility, I reckon, after some reflection, that more than 50% of the people would decide to vote in favour of it.

And with this post, the thread is f***ed.

MagicSean

kraggy wrote: »

Not everyone individually. I mean the country as a whole.

Yes, I know there hasn't been a poll recenty, but I'd bet that the majority of the Republic would take back the North if it was possible to reattain it by peaceful means and with peaceful consequences.

If it became a realistic possibility, I reckon, after some reflection, that more than 50% of the people would decide to vote in favour of it.

This is a bad time for it. It would put too many terrorists out of work.

OP, tell me what you see in this pic

1huge1

salonfire wrote: »

OP, tell me what you see in this pic

Once again I was just going by what I had read in the papers, I am no expert on the topic which is why I thought I would get a general opinion.

Richard

The UK has paid for many roads in the Republic through the EU.

Having said that, both then and now, the UK is in a better position financially, and maybe building roads in NI shouldn't be done at the expense of the Republic at the moment.

Jesus Wept

smk89 wrote: »

In the past 2 months there have been countless "Should we take NI?" posts. So if you want us so bad, build our roads. bitch!

do not want.

Notorious97

Why shouldnt we pay for some of it? We all live on the same island, we all want closer co-operation and integration. Would citizens of the Republic not be able to use these roads to access parts within the 6 counties? Of course we would, we get use of them also.

There was talk in the papers during the week of MEP Alan Kelly (i think MEP, if not sorry!) saying the different tourist boards on this island will inevitably need to be amalgamted into one, so Fáilte Ireland (responsible for marketing ireland as holiday destination within the Republic) Tourism Ireland (markets ireland abroad) 5 tourism regions within the republic and Northern Irish Tourist Board will probably merge into the one organisation to market Ireland as an island at home and abroad.

I for one am all in favour of close co-operation with the pwers that be within the 6 counties, its times like this everybody should be pulling together, im sure NI will contribute money for other things, its not all take take, and if it helps improve road networks in this island im all in favour of it.

Stinicker

The money should be spent, these roads will benefit all people on our Island, it makes economic sense and we have a duty to our people in Northern Ireland to help them. Ireland will unifiy soon enough once the Republic is back on its feet and the eminent demise of FF will see an end to Civil War politics that have really held back progress in the national question. Unionists & Protestants in Northern Ireland are Irish and must be welcomed into our society and the Love Ulster debacle was a sad day for this country.

darragh16

They're Irish up north as well, so they should get a share in the Infrastructure funds we don't have as well.

MagicSean

darragh16 wrote: »

They're Irish up north as well, so they should get a share in the Infrastructure funds we don't have as well.

That'd be fine if they paid the taxes that fund it.

For Forks Sake

mike65 wrote: »

They can fund the N25 New Ross bypass (euro route 30)

The preferable option would be to blow New Ross and its inbred, ginger vagrant population off the map altogether. I'm certain there are some experts in this sort of operation in nordie land. Result.

For Forks Sake

tallaghtmick wrote: »

easier access to iris robinson:pac:

I don't think it would be possible for access to the bould Iris to be much easier than already documented :P

El Siglo

All I'm going to say is, for the foxy ladies and cheap drink that's up here it's worth building them roads!;)

Badgermonkey

I think you'll find north of the border we call it the Queens Highway.

I wouldn't be seen dead prancing down a mere 'road' in me sash n' bowler.

KeithAFC

darragh16 wrote: »

They're Irish up north as well, so they should get a share in the Infrastructure funds we don't have as well.

Says who?

lawhec

k_mac wrote: »

That'd be fine if they paid the taxes that fund it.

For many years and still to a lesser extent today (there's not much difference in petrol, but those requiring diesel can still make savings of around 15-20p a litre), many northern motorists crossed the border to get their petrol and diesel at a significantly cheaper price per litre that near home, thus taking their Sterling south, contributing to the Irish Government's taxes through fuel duties and making some petrol station owners pretty well off in the process.

Patriotic duty and all that...

thetonynator

lawhec wrote: »

For many years and still to a lesser extent today (there's not much difference in petrol, but those requiring diesel can still make savings of around 15-20p a litre), many northern motorists crossed the border to get their petrol and diesel at a significantly cheaper price per litre that near home, thus taking their Sterling south, contributing to the Irish Government's taxes through fuel duties and making some petrol station owners pretty well off in the process.

Patriotic duty and all that...

But the millions being spent in newry and similar places every week by people from the south more than balances this out.

lawhec

thetonynator wrote: »

But the millions being spent in newry and similar places every week by people from the south more than balances this out.

That's a more recent phenomenon within the last few years brought about by a then very strong Euro (then close to €1=£1 whereas now it's about €1.15=£1) and higher general costs of living in the Republic particularly for luxury goods. The likes of Newry, Strabane, Enniskillen etc. aren't quite as busy now as they were 18-24 months ago, and many of these trips are one-offs (e.g. Christmas) rather than regular shopping excursions, especially if they're not living in the border counties.

OTOH the "petrol run" has been happening since the early-mid 90's, so going at least 15 years and many drivers make it a weekly habit (many drivers from Belfast would often go to Louth on Sunday evenings to fill up for the week) because the fuel for their car is a bit more essential than iPods or jewellery for presents.

Senna

I'm from Donegal and i hope this goes ahead. Donegal is miles behind for tourism, mostly because Board Failte forgot we were up here, all tourist exit Dublin or Shannon and turn south.

CabanasBoy

Half a BILLION to upgrade two routes!!! who the hell is pricing these jobs? There are potholes appearing in Dublin city centre (I can only imagine what the rest of the country is like)that can loosen your fillings and Clowen is pledging half a billion to build roads in another country. Good to see the "Good Ship Lunacy" has a steady FF hand a the helm. Will the speed limits on these stretches of road up north be posted in klicks or miles?