The SDLP has slammed the Department of Finance (DoF) over the proposed cuts to rural development budgets.

Spokesperson Patsy McGlone said infrastructure west of the Bann that has been neglected for decades.

He said: "It's potholes on rural roads that won’t be filled, it's rural bus services that are first to be cut.

"New proposals from the Department of Finance to cut rural community funding adds to that body of evidence. If these cuts are allowed to go ahead, unchallenged, they will rip the heart out of communities across the North, deplete services and diminish capacity within rural areas. That cannot be allowed to happen.

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"These organisations are involved in critical work to develop skills, increase community cohesion, improve services and develop local areas.

"The SDLP will be stating our firm opposition to the proposals formally in our submission to the Department and we'll continue to support those community networks doing critical work across the North."

(CD/MH)