Colr. Duffy new chair of cross-border development group

Colr. Duffy said she was honoured to be chosen by Councillors from across the political spectrum of Derry City & Strabane District Council and Donegal County Council to chair the cross border group.

She said: “I will endeavour to serve all the people of the North West to the best of my ability and hopefully we can deliver the much-needed investment that the region requires to build a strong and vibrant economy.

“The Group has set out a number of priorities that we wish to see progress during this term of both Councils.

“The North West has been recognised by governments in both Belfast and Dublin as a region that has suffered an inordinate imbalance when it comes to infrastructure investment and job creation going all the way back to the Good Friday Agreement and reiterated in every subsequent Agreement since including the recent New Decade- New Approach Agreement. But unfortunately, all most of them have delivered is lip service. That must change and we in the NWRDG will be working to ensure that the promises contained in the New Decade-New Approach made by the Irish and British governments and all of the Parties will be delivered in full.”

Co.r Duffy said both Councils will work to secure Irish government buy-in and investment to complement the approach adopted to secure exchequer investment in the context of the British government and Stormont’s City Deal commitment.

“Such a cross border approach and investment would fulfil the promise to the Region in Programmes for Government North and South and would no doubt give added value to the regeneration of the Region and also be of significant benefit to both economies,” she said.

“The biggest challenge facing the group post-Covid 19 will be to successfully navigate the hurdles that Brexit will inevitably confront us with. Properly planned and managed the North West Region is strategically positioned to lead the way in overcoming any obstacles encountered. By persistently pushing Belfast and Dublin to invest in the expansion of Magee University, the Medical School, completion of the M5, M6 and other necessary infrastructure projects we can be the catalyst to an economic recovery plan that will address sustainability and cross border health issues into the future.

“Economic growth and investment are key to our future sustainability, While road infrastructure is essential to future growth, we must not minimise our requirement for improved air and rail connectivity and expansion of our port facilities, particularly in the context of Brexit. In conjunction with investing in the connectivity structures, we must also encourage maximum cooperation and collaboration between all of the third level education institutions across both Council areas in innovation and research and development, We can make the North West Region a Region of Excellence in Education, Let us set our sights high and deliver on our Region’s potential!”