By Rebecca Crockett
TAOISEACH Simon Harris will make his first visit to Derry as leader where he is expected to mark ongoing cross-border cooperation between Derry, Tyrone, and Donegal.
The Fine Gael leader will announce €7.6 million from the Shared Island Fund to link the Wild Atlantic Way with the Causeway Coastal route in the North.
Speaking ahead of his visit, Mr Harris said: “I am looking forward to my first official visit to Derry to see and support the very positive North-South cooperation in the North-West region, and to engage with key stakeholders with a view to further strengthening collaboration.”
Mr Harris will also deliver the annual John Hume and Thomas P. O’Neill Chair Lecture at the University of Ulster’s Derry Campus. The Taoiseach will view the new teaching and student services building on the campus funded by the Shared Island Fund.
However, his first stop will be to meet the Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Lillian Seenoi-Barr.
Derry City and Strabane district Mayor, Lillian Seenoi-Barr.
The Taoiseach said: “My visit includes a meeting with Mayor Seenoi Barr in the Guildhall, and will also provide an opportunity to celebrate ongoing projects benefitting from Government of Ireland support, including the Wild Atlantic Way/Causeway Coastal Route branding collaboration.
The Wild Atlantic Way stretches 2,600km from Kinsale Co. Cork to the Inishowen Peninsula in Co. Donegal. A report released by Failte Ireland this year found the tourism route drove €3 billion in revenue per year, an increase of 58% in ten years.
These new plans for extra funding in the northwest come after confusion over whether the Derry City and Strabane Deal would go ahead. On Friday evening the British Government released it would pause city deals across the UK.
First Minister, Michelle O’Neill dispelled rumours on X, writing: “The Derry & Strabane City Deal will go ahead.”
Northern Secretary, Hillary Benn confirmed he would attend the signing of the deal this week: “I look forward to signing the financial terms of the Derry City and Strabane Deal, which has been in development for so long, on behalf of the UK Government in the coming days.”
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