Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister elaborate on the funding commitment post-2016? There was clarity on the funding commitment in the past; the project was to be co-funded. The Government is now three years into its term and next year the first £25 million it has committed to the project is due to be allocated. Hopefully the planning permission is in place for that. The Minister has indicated that there will be a further £25 million for the following year as well. We are only two years away from the end of that period. Will the Minister give us an update on the Government's commitment after that date in terms of what it will give towards the project?

Also, I urge the Minister to engage closely with the Northern Ireland Executive, because we are very much dependent on it to progress this project with the specific funding it had allocated towards it. It is key that the Minister be part of that. I know this is primarily a responsibility for the Executive, but what will happen the ring-fenced funding that was supposed to be spent on the road this year but was not spent due to the planning issues? This funding is critical to seeing the project built. The £50 million we have committed will not be sufficient to build the road, even with the level of funding the Northern Ireland Executive has. Will the Minister elaborate on our Government's long term commitment funding-wise?

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