Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 257: To ask the Minister for Transport his plans for the construction of a new road between Dublin and Derry; the type of road envisaged; the timescale involved; the work that has been carried out to date; the projected cost of the section in the Republic; the contribution required for the Northern Ireland section from the Irish Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34446/10]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the agreement of March 2007 between the Irish and British Governments on a funding package to support the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government made a commitment to provide funding of £400/€580 million in a roads investment package for Northern Ireland which will contribute to the upgrading of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Derry/Londonderry to dual-carriageway status. Drawdown depends on the achievement of agreed project milestones and clearance by the Cross-Border Roads Steering Group and North-South Ministerial Council. €9 million was provided in 2009 by the Government for the A5. Future project allocations will be agreed as normal in the context of the overall estimates process and in line with the agreed project milestones and payment schedule.

The A5 project is being implemented by the Roads Service of Northern Ireland (RSNI). With regard to the Republic of Ireland element of the project, in this jurisdiction, the Deputy will be aware that as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects, including service areas, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.