Thank you, Sir, for allowing me raise this matter. I also thank the Minister for coming into the House at this hour. Out of a total national roads allocation of almost £200 million announced last week by the Minister, less than £7 million is being allocated to County Donegal, one of the largest and most rural of our counties. When one considers that Cork is to get in excess of £35 million, Kildare almost £36 million and Louth, our smallest county, £15.5 million, one realises the complete inadequacy of the allocation of £7 million to Donegal.
Donegal is dependent on its road network to a greater extent than almost any other county. We have not one yard of railway, we have no major air terminals except Carrickfin and we have no developed seaports except the fishing port of Killybegs. A properly developed network of roads is crucial to the industrial development and economic wellbeing of our county.
Vast areas of north and west Donegal are without primary routes which are so vitally important in the development and maintenance of industrial employment. During the past month in one part of the Donegal Gaeltacht over 120 workers have been made redundant in industries that are developing and expanding in other parts of the country along the eastern seaboard where the major road allocations recently announced are concentrated. This is a most serious development and if the trend continues we could have an industrial wasteland, not only in Donegal but throughout the west.
Donegal is a huge county stretching from Bundoran to Malin Head and from Arranmore and Tory Islands to Castlefin and Killygordon. It has excellent industrial and tourism potential. Its main handicap and disadvantage is inadequate access. An allocation of £7 million per annum will not solve our problem.
I am appealing to the Minister to increase our share of the national roads allocation to match our size and difficulties so that our county, which is unique in its location and situation, can reach its full economic potential.