Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s regeneration and community committee agreed to contact Finance Minister John O’Dowd regarding funding for the A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass.

The council took this step after £6.6 million allocated for the project was returned unspent this year. The funds could not be used due to a legal challenge related to the A5 road.

Councillor Adam Gannon stated that Fermanagh has waited decades for the bypass. He noted that advanced works occurred in 2022, raising expectations locally that construction would begin.

Gannon pointed out differences between the bypass and A5 projects, including scale, cost, lack of objectors, and landowner support. He argued no justification exists to delay the bypass based on the A5 challenge.

The council requested a firm commitment to reinstate the £6.6 million in the 2026/27 financial year. The project received £12.5 million through the Mid South West Growth Deal but does not appear in the Executive’s draft multi-year budget.

The bypass received formal approval four years ago. Council records from 1976 document similar concerns over delays impacting development and costs in Enniskillen.