SDLP: Omagh ready to be economic and educational hub
THE SDLP’s Assembly Group visited Omagh on Monday 30 July taking in a site visit at the former Lisanelly Barracks and met with various representatives from the local business sector.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, SDLP Leader Dr Alasdair McDonnell said Omagh was ready to become an economic and educational hub, with the proper capital investment:
“Omagh and West Tyrone need public investment in order to see the evidence that local government works for the people from the regime at Stormont.
“The A5 road project and the proposed educational campus signal that the future, in terms of economic development and educational opportunity, are here.
“The recent announcement by dissident republicans must not deter all political parties from their working together in terms of building a better future for our young people. Omagh has the potential to show everyone how that better future will look.
“It’s crucial that the new peace we’re all enjoying must not be sacrificed, but built upon, given the needs of the young people in West Tyrone with educational training and job opportunities.”
SDLP West Tyrone MLA Joe Byrne added:
“The future of Omagh and West Tyrone centres on building better opportunities for our young people and creating jobs to keep them here. Omagh is a prime location for business and economic development, as evidenced in the work and development of the Omagh Enterprise Company for the SME sector and, for example, Terex Engineering, which employs over 300 in the local area.
“It’s also very obvious that Omagh is ripe for the relocation of a central government office and there is good reason to do so to meet governmental educational and environmental objectives.
“This visit by the SDLP Assembly Group shows the continued effort the party has placed on developing our regional towns.”
