Fjarðabyggð Municipality Council expresses its disappointment with the emphases that appear in the draft transportation plan and other state plans for infrastructure development that relate to Fjarðabyggð . The Municipal Council reiterates the importance of accelerating construction on the Suðurfjarðaveg. This is one of the most important transportation projects in the national road system and has waited too long for a solution despite repeated suggestions about its importance for traffic safety, living conditions, employment and the competitiveness of the municipality. The Municipal Council also expresses its satisfaction that research on the Fjarðagöng Tunnel is beginning. The Municipal Council expresses its disappointment that East Iceland is not among the regions where the construction of a vocational training center is planned in the near future. Strong vocational training is a key prerequisite for the continued development of the economy and value creation in East Iceland, and it is therefore important that students and companies in the region have comparable opportunities to those elsewhere in the country. It also raises concerns that an increase in nursing homes in East Iceland is not planned until 2030 despite the obvious and growing need. The residents of the Eastfjords have the right to the same services and security as other citizens, and it is important to respond to the foreseeable development of the aging population. The Municipal Council believes that Fjarðabyggð has lagged behind when it comes to developing state infrastructure. At the same time, the municipality and the business community are involved in extensive development of ports and other infrastructure for billions of krónur to support the continued creation of value for the country and the nation. Many projects under the auspices of the state have been under discussion and in the plans for years without any funding or construction. Now it is necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The municipal council calls on the government and the Althingi to prioritize the development of infrastructure in Fjarðabyggð in accordance with its importance to imports and exports and basic industries. Through targeted investments in transportation, vocational training and healthcare, the state can support continued value creation, increase the country's competitiveness and create the conditions for increased prosperity in the future.
