Member's statement: A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass

Member's statement by Ms Diana Armstrong on 9 February 2026.

MLA

Ms Diana Armstrong

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

9 February 2026

Type

Member's statement

Business

Members' Statements

Heading

A4 Enniskillen Southern Bypass

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5369051

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I rise to place firmly on the record the deep frustration, disappointment and growing sense of unfairness felt by many of my constituents following the announcement on Friday of the withdrawal of £6·6 million from the A4 southern bypass project. The bypass was not an optional or speculative proposal; it was cornerstone project in the Mid South West growth deal, developed precisely to address long-standing deficits in infrastructure, connectivity and investment in the west of Northern Ireland. The growth deal was sold to local communities, councils and businesses as a genuine opportunity to rebalance our economy, stimulate sustainable growth and ensure that regions outside our main urban centres were not left behind once again. The removal of that funding now seriously undermines that premise. The practical consequences of the decision are profound. The A4 already experiences chronic congestion, with frequent delays affecting commuters, hauliers, emergency services and local supply chains. Tourism, which is a vital part of Fermanagh's economy, is also impacted, as unreliable access deters visitors and investors alike. The bypass was designed to relieve those pressures and unlock further development. By withdrawing the funding, the Executive are not simply delaying a road project; they are stalling economic momentum and eroding confidence among those who were encouraged to believe that regional balance was more than just a slogan. It raises a legitimate and uncomfortable question: would such a decision have been taken so readily had that scheme been located in a predominantly urban area, or are rural communities once again expected to accept second-best infrastructure and diminished opportunity? That perception, whether intended or not, risks deepening mistrust and disengagement with central decision-making. Infrastructure investment is not just about roads and bridges; it signals where growth is expected to occur and where people are encouraged to live, work and invest. Removing support for a project of that scale sends precisely the wrong message to communities in Enniskillen and across Fermanagh who already face challenges relating to distance, connectivity and access to services. Therefore, I ask the Minister of Finance whether he, along with his colleague the Minister for the Economy, who is here today, have fully considered the long-term economic, social and regional consequences of the decision and what steps they now intend to take to reassure my constituents that the sustainability of their local economy, their connectivity and their future development prospects remain a genuine priority for the Executive.

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

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:31 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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