I am glad to have the opportunity to raise the need to provide substantial funding to local authorities in Border counties to restore cross-Border roads. This is a very important issue in Ulster and adjoining areas. I am glad that the opportunity has arisen for these important links to be restored and I urge the Government to convey on a daily basis to the British authorities the urgent need to have closed Border roads reopened. There must not be further foot dragging by the British Government on this issue. Over the years, public representatives in Border counties have sought the reopening of important links between North and South but, basically, our legitimate concerns and views were not heeded by the British who shielded their negative response behind "security considerations".
I put on record my appreciation of the Taoiseach's work in advancing the peace process. His Government colleagues, Mr. John Hume and others must also be complimented. It is important that the cessation of violence by both sides in the Six Counties is met by positive and visible improvements in the life of local communities. Surely an early and visible peace dividend would be the restoration of transport and road links between counties, North and South.
Border road closures have caused immeasurable hardship to communities, North and South, and led in some instances to the destruction of normal commercial and social life. Normal living can only be restored when Border links are restored. Both the Irish and British Governments urgently need to implement measures to redress the situation that has arisen after 25 years of trouble in Ulster. People should be able to see the benefits that accrue from a lasting peace. The troubles in the North have hindered the development of commerce and trade in Border areas. Towns were cut off from their natural hinterlands by the closure of cross-Border roads and nowhere is this better demonstrated than in the case of the N3, the national primary road from Dublin through Cavan, Enniskillen and on to Donegal which abruptly ends on the Cavan-Fermanagh border at Aghalane.
On a number of occasions in the House and in meetings with the Minister for the Environment I raised the problems in County Cavan because of the totally inadequate road network. The deficient road system in that county has been exacerbated by Border road closures with a consequent transfer of pressure to other roads. I compliment the Minister for the Environment who spoke of the importance of the proper restoration of Border links when on a recent visit to Fermanagh. He quite rightly outlined the need for such a development from a social point of view, such as the facilitation of contact between local communities and the generation of new business activity.
I welcome the Minister's assurance that finance will be made available to local authorities to carry out the necessary works to roads as soon as a decision to reopen has been taken. The Secretary of State, Sir Patrick Mayhew, announced that the necessary funds will be made available to the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment which will enable them to bring Border crossings up to an acceptable standard. Our local authorities must be allocated the necessary funding to restore road links which have lain derelict for years. I cannot over-emphasise the importance of the Department of the Environment and local councils tackling this task in a businesslike and efficient manner. The end product must be a modern and up to standard road link. It would be appropriate and necessary to harmonise road standards on both sides of the Border and I trust the financial allocations will enable this to be achieved.
Cavan and Monaghan have suffered severely from Border road closures and I can think of seven important road links between Cavan and Fermanagh that should be reopened. I mentioned the N3 which has adversely affected the economic and social life of Belturbet town and its catchment area since the early 1970s. The other roads, namely, Uragh, Drumbrughas, Cornagran, Drumconra and Drummersee, which are in the vicinity of Swanlinbar and Clonandra near Redhills need to be reopened at the earliest possible date. The towns of Belturbet and Swanlinbar have suffered from these closures and are entitled to the restoration of all links between their local communities and, as is the case with Swanlinbar, the restoration of roads North and South within its own parish of Kinawley. I know that Cavan County Council has put forward realistic proposals to the Minister for funding to enable the necessary works to be carried out on these roads.
Each report on the Border areas highlighted the deficient transport infrastructure. The welcome advance in the peace process gives the Government an opportunity to redress those deficiencies. I look forward to the Minister giving local authorities, such as Cavan County Council, the necessary level of funding to restore to the appropriate standards such vital and important road links that will benefit the lifestyle of people, North and South, improve local economies and opportunities for employment creation.
