Debate contribution: Regional Balance Bill: Second Stage

Debate contribution by Ms Sinéad McLaughlin on 8 September 2026.

MLA: Ms Sinéad McLaughlin
Party at the time: Social Democratic and Labour Party
Date: 8 September 2026
Type: Debate contribution
Business: Private Members' Business
Heading: Regional Balance Bill: Second Stage
Assembly identifier: Official Report component 5674454

Text

I will add that, at the moment, rural communities face higher fuel costs, higher transport costs and challenges with accessing services. Those are added expenses when one lives in rural communities, and those drive up poverty. There are lots of stats on rural poverty, and it increases the further one gets from the urban centre of Belfast. An hour away from Belfast, rural poverty can kick in quite significantly. That is why we need to tie into the Regional Balance Bill the importance of access, connectivity and roads for our rural communities. Enniskillen has waited far too long for its new road infrastructure, as has Derry. We are still waiting on the completion of the A6, and God knows when the A5 will ever come to pass. There are significant deficits west of the Bann, and they need to be addressed.

141 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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