TURMOIL within An Bord Pleanála is putting a multi-million euro project linking Lifford with Strabane at “serious risk”.
It was anticipated that work on the Donegal element of the €12 million Riverine Project would begin next month.
But an internal crisis at Ireland’s national planning body has thrown it into uncertainty.
A report published this week reveals how An Bord Pleanála has a spiralling backlog of 2,300 cases – the Riverine believed to be among them.
March will mark two years since almost €9 million was ring-fenced to help create 30 acres of new cross-border community park space and infrastructure connecting the neighbouring towns.
An additional €2.8 million was granted in July of this year to cover rising construction costs.
A planning decision on the scheme was due in October. But it has been delayed with no alternative date provided.
Under the terms of the agreement with PEACE IV all money dedicated to the Riverine has to be spent by December 2023.
But fears are growing that without An Bord Pleanála’s input, that timeline may not be met.
Donegal County Council has contacted the planning agency to stress the need for a response and says the situation may be resolved soon.
But a report circulated to councillors in recent days says that “An Bord Pleanála approval remains a significant risk to the project”.
The document states, “It is understood that An Bord Pleanála are awaiting responses from other agencies prior to making a decision and both councils are actively engaging with these agencies to help expedite the responses.
“If the An Bord Pleanála decision is not received in the next few weeks there may not be sufficient time remaining to allow the Lifford park element of the project to be completed within the PEACE IV funding window.”
The report adds that there is no scope to extend the funding offer beyond December 2023.
The snag is the second blow in as many weeks to a project that has been beset by difficulties since its inception more than a decade ago.
It emerged last week that a key element of the Riverine – a pedestrian bridge across the River Foyle – has had to be shelved.
The problem there is that the bridge will require a foreshore licence, a document that will take 18 months to secure.
Because of the funding deadline those plans have had to be set aside and will be revisited once a new stream of finance can be identified.
Despite the uncertainty created by An Bord Pleanála, work on the northern side of the scheme could still go ahead.
Decisions on the Strabane element are expected to be received in time to allow completion of the park there within the funding window.
Confirming the problems that have arisen, Donegal County Council said, “As the bridge cannot be delivered within the Peace IV funding window, it has been held over to a future phase of the project.
Discussions are ongoing to identify alternative funding sources for the bridge, including potentially through the upcoming PEACE PLUS programme.
“It is important to acknowledge that a bridge to connect the parks from both sides of the border remains fundamental to the objectives of the overall Riverine Project. Both councils are committed to seeing the project delivered in its entirety as soon as possible.
“There are further challenges remaining to the delivery of the Lifford park and Strabane park elements of the Riverine Community Park within the PEACE IV funding window.
“There has been unforeseeable project challenges in obtaining statutory approvals including planning permission for the Lifford park, due to operational issues within An Bord Pleanála.
“Donegal County Council together with Derry City and Strabane District Council, is working with the main project funder SEUPB and supporting government departments to discuss these issues and agree an appropriate way forward.”
Strabane Councillor Paul Gallagher, who has campaigned for years to get the Riverine Project over the line, said it was important that everyone continued to “talk up” the scheme.
“This project is not one side of the river or the other, it is one project,” he said.
“It is unbelievable how many groups bought into this project, saw the value of this project and want to see it delivered.
“So we need to be talking it up and when there is anyone getting disillusioned we need to be saying let’s keep going and let’s get this back to where it needs to be.
“The Riverine needs to be completed in its entirety and everyone, including the councils, the state bodies and the communities, need to stay committed to seeing it through.”
The Donegal News contacted An Bord Pleanála but at the time of going to press last night no response had been received.
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