HIGH QUALITY FOR NW SAYS MINISTER

Minister Conor Murphy acknowledged that the NW needs high quality ports, airports, roads and transport infrastructure. At a business lunch organized by the City's Chamber of Commerce, the Minister outlined the main schemes in the plan to deliver on that high quality.

"Key to the success of the region" said the Chamber President in his introductory remarks "is the speedy delivery of these plans to connect Derry to not only Belfast but also Dublin." However speed was not the order of the day. Many of the schemes outlined will be subject to 'statutory processes' which in most cases takes years to complete. Indeed for the much awaited and much announced Derry to Dungiven stretch, members were told it will take several years before the statutory process is complete let alone the road built.

That being said the Minister was most positive when outlining the schemes and even on the hot topic of the railway, indicated that he would do all he could to make Rail an attractive alternative. In relation to the road infrastructure, he pointed out that the NW will benefit from greatly reduced travel time when the planned schemes are complete.

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Notes to Editors

The Chamber of Commerce is the NW's leading business representation organization, with over 400 direct members and through NWCCI (partnership of Chambers in the NW region), links to over 1000 businesses in the NW.