John O’Dowd, the infrastructure minister of Stormont, confidently expressed his belief that a satisfactory conclusion will be reached concerning the issue of Irish language signs at the recently opened Belfast Grand Central Station. Monday saw the station’s formal inauguration, with passengers having started using the facility the previous Sunday morning.
The largest integrated transportation centre across Ireland is to be this station, sequentially opening its phases, including the anticipation of train services later in the current year. The new station, which replaces the former Europa Bus Centre and Great Victoria Street Station, is planned as the principal port of transport for Belfast. Grand Central is projected to handle an estimated 20 million passenger travels annually, marking it as a transformative development in Northern Ireland’s public transport system with potential for future expansion.
Nevertheless, the project has garnered some critique due to its surging costs, which are projected to reach £340 million upon completion. Additionally, campaigners for the Irish language have voiced their disappointment at the lack of local language signs.
Mr O’Dowd confirmed that the project will undergo a review and further discussions about the signages are in progress. He expressed the sentiment that the station’s opening represents a significant occasion in the history of their society, marking Belfast as a modern European city. The minister from Sinn Féin insisted that further investment and planning are required to ensure equivalent services across Northern Ireland, for instance, to put Derry on par with Belfast. He provided reassurances regarding long-term plans for an all-island rail review and examinations of plausible rail links to Belfast International Airport, Derry, Dublin, Cork and also between Portadown and Armagh.
In reference to the facility’s cost, Mr. O’Dowd highlighted that its construction happened amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, which marked a time of extraordinary inflation, especially within the building sector. He further explained that that was just one aspect of the overall cost, in addition to him instructing his staff to review the project in order to glean any learnings for the future. The focus of this review is to understand what crucial insights could be gleaned from such a significant project, particularly given its location at the centre of Belfast. Mr O’Dowd further confirmed an ongoing review of the process.
The unresolved agreement regarding Irish language signage at the station has led to Mr O’Dowd expressing disappointment, yet he maintains a firm belief that an agreement can be reached. He emphasized the importance of giving the Irish language a visible presence in light of Belfast’s rich Irish speaking community. He commented on his ongoing collaboration with Translink, saying he confidently anticipates a successful resolution to that matter.
Mr. O’Dowd stated that as a minister, his intentions were to wisely use his powers, asserting that collaborating with others often yields more effective results. He pointed out the active roles of the chief executive and the board in managing Translink, and spoke of his current collaboration with them to resolve this issue.
Exuding confidence, Mr. O’Dowd assured that this matter will be successfully solved leading to more visibility of the Irish language not only in this facility but also in other public buildings. – PA