I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for affording me the opportunity to raise this important matter on the Adjournment. It concerns a road with which I know you are familiar from your frequent visits to Donegal, particularly to Gweedore. The Termon to Dunlewey road is part of the shortest route between Letterkenny and Gweedore and is colloquially known as the Back of Errigal Road or Bealach Chúl an Earagail. It links the N56 at Termon with the N56 at Meenacuing in Gweedore, a total span of 29.2 kilometres or approximately 18 miles. The first six kilometres from Termon is along the regional road R255. The remainder, to the National Park at Glenveagh, past Errigal Moun tain through Dunlewey to Meenacuing, is along regional road R251. This road has been identified as a top priority non-national route.
It is the shortest access route from Letterkenny to the west of the county, particularly to the Rosses and Gweedore, and the industrial estate at Derrybeg where upwards of 1,400 people are employed. It passes through one of the most scenic parts of Donegal and is also the access road to two major tourist attractions, Glenveagh National Park, which attracts in excess of 100,000 visitors per annum, and Ionad Cois Locha in Dunlewey, which was visited by 70,000 people last year. The road also carries a huge volume of local traffic and is used extensively by ambulances and other emergency services.
The condition of this vitally important road is scandalous. While repairs have and are being carried out at both ends, the centre from the Poison Glen crossroads to Glenveagh, is nothing more than a glorified goat track. According to a report prepared by Donegal County Council last year, the transverse cracking is severe, the cracks are wide and the surface water run-off is penetrating the sub-base. There is seldom an incident free day on this road. Articulated trucks get bogged down, many vehicles are damaged and most new cars must be equipped with extra suspension if they are used regularly on this road.
The road serves the Údarás na Gaeltachta industrial estate in Derrybeg. It is used to transport raw materials to the estate and the finished products to their markets. It is placing an intolerable burden on the industries located there, which employ over 1,400 people in this peripheral part of the county. I have heard many of the industrialists and employers expressing their exasperation at the lack of progress on bringing the road up to an acceptable standard.
We have all heard of the importance of infrastructure and access to the development of industry and the creation of employment. We also know of the unacceptable high level of unemployment in Donegal, which is three times the national average. If we are serious about maintaining the Údarás na Gaeltachta jobs in west Donegal, a serious effort must be made to carry out the necessary repairs as soon as possible.
On his recent visit to Donegal, the Taoiseach met all the managers in the industrial estate along with the local chamber of commerce. Their priority was the Back of Errigal Road. My party leader, Deputy John Bruton, on a visit to the county last weekend also recognised the importance of this road. Everyone recognises its importance but funding, so far, has been completely inadequate. During 1998 there was no specific improvement grant for the Dunlewey end of the road because the council did not submit an application. The previous year only £48,000 was allocated for the Dunlewey side. This year there has been a slight improvement and a total of £448,000 has been approved for the R251 section of the road but it is too little too late. Work started last week and only a few hundred metres have been completed. I appeal for a supplementary allocation to enable work to continue on this road until it is brought up to an acceptable and safe standard.
If we are serious about the development of the industrial estate in the west Donegal Gaeltacht, the development of the tourism industry, other industries and the needs of the local population, this road should be a top priority. I urge the Minister to do everything possible to approve the necessary extra funding without further delay. I would also like to mention the alternative route to the west, the N56. It is also in need of major funding, otherwise my part of Donegal, the west of the county, will be left underdeveloped and inaccessible.