Shared Island Initiative ignoring Lifford-Stranorlar MD claims Cllr Patrick McGowan

The absence of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District in decision-making for initiatives under the Government's Shared Island Initiative, particularly along the border region has been challenged.

The concerns were raised by the cathaoirleach of the Lifford-Stranorlar Municipal District at their online meeting last Monday. Cllr Patrick McGowan said he wanted a special meeting between councillors from the municipal district and Donegal County Council's section dealing with the unit.

The council has been awarded funding for a series of new innovative projects under the Government's Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme and will be working in partnership with Derry City and Strabane District Council and Fermanagh and Omagh District Council in the coming year but Cllr McGowan feels their area is being ignored.

"There are massive plans afoot and it seems to involve Donegal-Derry-Strabane City Status cross-border group but as both Cllr Gary Doherty and myself have highlighted, there is no one from this municipal district involved.

"Only ourselves and the Inishowen MD have a land border here in the north-west but neither of us has been consulted about this at all. I want a special meeting with the unit within the council specifically dealing with this municipal district as to what projects are there for us. To me it looks more like a Letterkenny-Derry project," he said.

He was told by Mary McBride from the council's economic development, information systems and emergency services section that she would get the specific details he had requested.

Cllr McGowan also said he noticed the municipal district had also been omitted from the council's new Remote Working Group and wondered why.

In relation to this, he was told there was a meeting scheduled this week to deal with Remote Working Group issues and she would pass on any clarifications to him when these became available.

Cllr McGowan said he had received an official response from the council section dealing with this question adding there was less information in the response than there was on the agenda.

The response stated: 'Donegal County Council has been awarded funding for a series of new projects under the Irish Government's Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme and is working in partnership with various partners and stakeholders on each of these projects'.

The answer then goes on to list the projects but Cllr McGowan felt this did not go far enough.

"If I didn't know that [what was contained in the response] I would class myself as totally uninterested. I don't think there's anyone in the country that wouldn't know that. This is the reason why I've asked for a special meeting.

“This municipal district is in a border area and plans are being made and projects applied for but I can't see where this area is involved in it. I want the staff from the director down to explain specifically what is going on in this municipal district. I think it will turn out to be a very interesting meeting," he said.