DUP request to halt Irish language street signs in Mid Ulster over cost concerns dismissed

A DUP request for a temporary halt to the provision of new dual language street signs featuring Irish in Mid Ulster has been dismissed.

Dungannon DUP councillor Clement Cuthbertson asked for the halt at Mid Ulster District Council’s Environment Committee earlier this month, citing financial constraints.

The request followed the committee agreeing a review of bonfire damage repair costs in Dungannon after concern was raised over the estimated bill.

Mr Cuthbertson proposed suspending requests for new dual language street signs, and halting the erection of any, “until such times that a budget can be established”.

“If the Environmental Services budget is that stretched, I propose that we suspend these requests,” he said.

Cookstown Sinn Féin councillor John McNamee said that the provision of bilingual signage, where it has been requested by local residents, was a matter of policy.

“If Councillor Cuthbertson wants to change it, he needs to bring a motion to the council, and not a statement at the Environment Committee,” he said.

Sinn Féin Dungannon rep Deirdre Varsani said there was “no comparison between bonfire damage, criminal damage, and Irish language signs”.

She queried whether a vote could be taken on Councillor Cuthbertson’s proposal, since she deemed his proposed course of action to be contrary to policy.

Committee chair and SDLP councillor Christine McFlynn said she was advised by a senior officer “that this is all already a policy within the council”.

“So, we can’t really take a vote on this tonight,” she said, adding to Mr Cuthberston: “If you want to change the policy of the council, you’ll have to bring a Motion forward.”

The DUP rep later asked: “What happens if 200 signs requests come in next month, or a thousand the next month? There’s no budget set aside for this.

“What other council service is suffering to maintain this service?”

Ms McFlynn concluded the matter, stating that “we do have money in the budget to deliver our signs as and when our people decide”.