Key strategic projects to be 'substantially progressed' in 2026 - West Tyrone MP

WEST Tyrone MP., Órfhlaith Begley, has issued a New Year message for constituents:

“The A5 has been the scene of heartbreak for far too many families,” she said.

“Building this road will save lives, but also cut journey times between the north west and Dublin and be an economic driver for the surrounding communities.

“The Infrastructure Minister is taking all the necessary steps to ensure this road can at last progress, including the appeal against the ruling that prevented the road moving forward earlier.

“The intervention of Agriculture Minister Andrew Muir to support this appeal was welcome.

“Political co-operation and agreement is needed across the Assembly.

“Collective effort can help deliver this hugely important project.

“As a flagship Executive project, ministers must continue working together to build a safer A5 road, which is of huge importance to the entire island of Ireland.

“In the year ahead, the process to deliver other ‘long-standing’ key strategic projects for the people of West Tyrone will be substantially progressed.

“This includes: £150 million of Executive funding for the Strule Shared Education Campus; the securing of £103m, through the City and Growth Deal, to fund a range of major capital projects in Strabane town centre and the allocation of €16.7m SEUPB Peace Plus funding for the Riverine Project between Strabane and Lifford.

“Sinn Féin elected representatives, at every level, have worked tirelessly over many years to deliver these projects and we will continue to work in the year ahead to ensure these and other projects of socio-economic benefit for the constituency are brought to fruition.

“Working as part of a four-party Executive with different and often conflicting political positions is difficult and complex but when Ministers work together constructively on issues such a public sector pay there has been real progress made.

“However, decades of underinvestment and continued austerity from Westminster as well as the lack of fiscal powers at the Executive’s disposal, mean that massive competing financial pressures and stresses on a limited budget will continue.

“The reality is London has never and will never prioritise the interests of the people of the north of Ireland.

“In this context, more and more people are coming to the realisation that our interests are best served in a United Ireland.

“The fundamentals of partition have dramatically changed and there is a growing all-Ireland economy which can be built upon.

“Alongside our determination to deliver in the here and now for the people the Executive is elected to represent, Sinn Féin is actively engaged in the growing debate on constitutional change and building a better Ireland.

“More people are discussing the exciting possibilities of a post-partition Ireland and what the future would look like for themselves and their families.

“That is why both the Irish and British governments must engage in those preparations now.

“Sinn Féin has called for a referendum by 2030, and I will continue to press that case.

“Wishing everyone at home and our diaspora a healthy and happy New Year. Bliain úr faoi mhaise daoibh uilig go léir.”