Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This funding has been on our budget and allocated every year. This is testament to our commitment to supporting the A5 project. As the Deputy knows, the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure published the interim report of the Planning Appeals Commission inquiry into the A5. The Minister, Ms Mallon, has accepted the commissioner's key recommendation on the need for further work, public consultation on flood risk and the consideration of alternative routes for the proposed scheme. The intention remains that the public inquiry will be reconvened during 2022, as recommended by the Planning Appeals Commission. The commission will prepare its final report after the public inquiry. This should then allow for a new ministerial decision to be made. The final report is expected in early 2023, which is why we can make this decision today. Our contribution towards phase 1 will not be required in 2021 or 2022. The commitment will be there in 2023. We know we can make this allocation today because it will not be spent.