John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Arising from the St. Andrews Agreement, the Irish Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry, thus improving access to Letterkenny and north Donegal. The Government's original commitment was to have been a contribution of £400 million for investment in roads infrastructure in Northern Ireland, which was included in a joint infrastructure investment package announced in March 2007 by the British and Irish Governments in the lead-up to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive.

As the planning process for the A5 progressed, the Irish Government contributed £22 million to the project. It had been envisaged, subject to the outcome of the planning process, that the balance of the Irish Government's contribution would be paid between 2013 and 2016 in accordance with the achievement of specified milestones during the construction phase of the project. However, following an extensive capital review conducted in 2011 by the Government and in view of the current economic position, it proved necessary to defer the funding commitment to the A5. At the North-South Ministerial Council plenary on 18 November 2011, it was noted that the provision of further funding by the Irish Government for the A5 road was being deferred but that the Government would provide £25 million per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project.

In February 2012, the Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development announced the Northern Ireland Executive's plan for funding two significant sections of the A5, between Derry and Strabane and between Omagh and Ballygawley, at an estimated cost of £330 million, which included the £50 million to be provided by the Irish Government. Following publication of the necessary statutory orders in advance of construction, the decision by the Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development to proceed with the two sections of the A5 was challenged by a group known as the Alternative A5 Alliance.

On 12 March 2013, the Northern Ireland High Court rejected the overwhelming majority of the applicants' grounds of challenge. One of the applicants' grounds was, however, upheld, as the judge held that an appropriate assessment under the habitats directive should have been carried out on the scheme. On that basis he indicated he was minded to quash the decision of the Minister to approve the scheme. At a further hearing on 8 April 2013, the judge confirmed he would quash the orders relating to the A5 scheme.

The outcome of the judicial review is disappointing, as we had hoped to see early progress on a project with so much potential for cross-Border co-operation and development of the north-west region. The project was discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council transport sectorial on 17 April and the Minister for Regional Development now plans to the undertake the environmental assessment required under the habitats directive. This is a necessary first step to progress the project. The project will be delayed but the Irish Government remains committed to the A5 project, which it fully recognises as being of strategic importance to the north-west region and the island as a whole.

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