Speaking in Stormont on Monday 29th June, SDLP Justin McNulty MLA asked Minister of Infrastructure Liz Kimmins whether she would commit full support to realising the enormous economic, tourism and environmental potential of the Newry Canal?
Mr McNulty was questioning the Minister after her delivery of a statement on inland waterways. His question comes off the back of the establishment of a joint working group between Newry, Mourne and Down District Council and Armagh, Banbridge Craigavon Council working on prioritising the regeneration of Newry Canal. Earlier this month, that working group agreed to an SDLP proposal to write to both the Minister of Infrastructure and the Minister of Agriculture, Environment, and Rural Affairs seeking the establishment of a multi-agency taskforce to help drive this regeneration project forward.
McNulty thus asked whether Minister Kimmins will back the establishment of that taskforce and work proactively with the local councils and partners including the Department of the Taoiseach’s Shared Island Unit to finally realise the potential of the Newry Canal. In response, the Minister stated that “Anything we can do to support this going forward, I’m happy to do.”
ENDS
CLANRYE NEWS 