Lough Foyle ferry subsidy runs out
Ferry Online Travel News 19/02/2009
According to the regional development minister the funding will end when the contract expires in June.
Although the Lough Foyle Ferry Company has been receiving an annual subsidy for its service on the Greencastle-Magilligan route, the funds have run out.
On Tuesday, members of the assembly members urged Conor Murphy to help with continued funding for the service, but he said it was not possible as the ferry serves two jurisdictions and that budgets were too tight.
The Lough Foyle Ferry connects Magilligan in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, with Greencastle in County Donegal, in the Irish Republic. The one-mile crossing takes approximately 15 minutes.
"I do recognise the importance of the ferry service in the local area and, despite the limitations of my own department, I think that at the very least there is a need for interested parties to explore more fully whether there are any options available which might help the service," Murphy said.
He added that he would be "happy to be involved in that process with my own department".
In 2008, the Lough Foyle Ferry Company reported an operating loss of 56,000 euros, and by estimates, it could lose as much as 224,000 euro this year.
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