‘We want infrastructure that makes our community safer’- Cllr

A LOCAL councillor has criticised the government for failing to invest in adequate infrastructure in west Donegal.

Cllr Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig made the remarks after yet another accident occurred outside An Chrannóg in Gaoth Dobhair last Thursday night.

Last month, Caitríona Nic Gairbheith, manager of the local community centre, highlighted the dangers of the road in an article published by the Donegal News.

In the article, she spoke of the several frightening “near misses” involving children walking to the centre.

Situated on the main Stranacorka road in the parish, the centre sees up to 300 children pass through their doors weekly.

Ms Nic Gairbheith believes it is only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured on the road, or worse.

Since being elected to Donegal County Council, Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig has consistently raised this issue and called for a pelican crossing to be installed outside the community centre.

However, it has yet to be implemented.

Although speed is thought to be the leading cause of the accidents, he said it is not the only factor.

“It is easy to blame speed, but there are many other factors at play,” Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said.

“Active travel funding is one of the main supports we seek, but the government won’t give it to us in our area.

“We constantly say that we are the forgotten county, but for me, I think we are just the county that they don’t care about.

“We, in the west, deserve better and we are entitled to have infrastructure that is safe within our community.”

Describing the government’s neglect as a “disgrace”, Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig said the community simply wants infrastructure that makes the local area safer.

“Every five years the political parties that are in government will come around and they will promise us the moon and the stars,” he said.

“Then after the elections, they move on and we are not getting the slice of the pie that we need.

“All we want is the infrastructure that makes our community safer and better.”

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