Fermanagh and Omagh District Council approved a motion calling for a dedicated cross-border funding programme to address underinvestment in rural roads along the border corridor.

Sinn Féin Councillor Sheamus Greene proposed the motion, seconded by Sinn Féin Councillor Thomas O’Reilly, at a recent council meeting. Members backed the initiative targeting roads from Londonderry and Donegal through Tyrone, Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan and Armagh to Louth.

Councillors noted these routes support farming, school transport, emergency services, tourism and the economy. The council agreed that repeated pothole repairs fail as a sustainable solution.

The proposed Border Corridor Rural Roads Investment Programme would provide funding beyond existing roads budgets. It involves collaboration between the British Government, Northern Ireland Executive, Irish Government and European Union to improve regional connectivity in peripheral rural areas.

Priorities include permanent resurfacing, improved drainage, flood mitigation and long-term road network recovery across the border region.

The council will write to the Minister for Infrastructure, First Minister, deputy First Minister, Irish Minister for Transport, British Secretary of State, North/South Ministerial Council and British-Irish Council. Neighbouring border councils will receive contact to pursue a joint approach.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council will host a Border Corridor Roads Summit in the Erne East area. The summit aims to gather evidence from government representatives, local authorities and stakeholders for a coordinated funding bid.

Findings from the summit will form a Border Corridor Roads Evidence Paper for submission to the Stormont Executive and Irish Government, outlining priorities and investment needs.