Proceedings of the Regional Development Committee
on Wednesday 15 November 2000
At 10.30am Members of the Committee visited the Headquarters of the Roads Service, Western Division, in the County Hall, Omagh. There they received a presentation from the Minister and officials from the Roads Service highlighting the funding problems they face in delivering the improvements to roads which are necessary to sustain economic growth, reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety.
The Members present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr J Byrne
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Mr J Wells
In Attendance were:
Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
Rt Hon JD Taylor MP
Also present were Councillor Liam McQuaid, Chairman of Omagh District Council and Mr John McKinney, Chief Executive of Omagh District Council.
At 11.45am the Members were then taken to Enniskillen via the A32 (Mr Byrne was unable to attend this part of the visit). They were shown examples of road improvements which the Roads Service has carried out and other sections of the road where repairs are urgently needed but cannot be completed because of funding limitations.
At 1.00pm the Committee visited Castle Barracks, Enniskillen where the Blue Badge Unit, a section of the Roads Service which administers the Blue Badge scheme for all of Northern Ireland, is located. The Members met the staff who described the role of the unit.
The Committee met in public session in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen. The meeting commenced at 3.06pm.
Present were:
Mr A Maginness (Chairman)
Mr A Mc Farland (Deputy Chairman)
Mr D Ervine
Mr W Hay
Mr D Hussey
Mr R Hutchinson
Mr P McNamee
Mr J Wells
In Attendance:
Mrs D Pritchard ( Committee Clerk)
Mr S Fay ( Assistant Committee Clerk)
Mr N Currie ( Executive Support)
Mrs S Young ( Administrative Support)
Apologies:
Mr PJ Bradley
Mr J Byrne
Rt Hon JD Taylor MP
The Committee received a presentation from Councillor Gerry Gallagher, Chairman of Fermanagh District Council and Mr Rodney Connor, Chief Executive of Fermanagh District Council on the problems in the area with regards to roads and transport.
Mr Ronnie Spence Permanent Secretary, Department for Regional Development
Mrs Linda Brown Deputy Secretary
Mr Colin James Chief Executive, Roads Service
Mr Geoff Allister Western Division Roads Manager
Mr Graeme Fraser Director of Operations, Roads Service.
were present at the meeting and answered Members' questions about the issues raised.
The Chief Executive agreed to send the Committee a copy of the Integrated County Development Strategy and the data on the road usage prepared for the Acute Hospital Review Group.
Mr Wells left the meeting at 3.36pm
He returned at 3.38pm.
The Chairman invited comments from the public who raised concerns about:
- safety on the roads in the area including speed limits on the A509 and traffic through the town of Derrylin;
- the proposal to abandon some roads in the area and links with the National Roads Authority in the Republic of Ireland;
- the implications of the proposal to impose tax on quarry produce and tarmac in 2002;
- the isolation of some communities because of flooding in the Inishroosk and Rossmacole areas; and
- the absence of a school bus in the Monea/Derrygonnelly area since 1993 because the road is deemed to be unsafe for a bus to use.
Officials noted the concerns and will address them.
The meeting closed at 4.16pm.
8 November 2000 / Menu / 22 November 2000