Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, there is ongoing liaison on the A5 project under the umbrella of the North-South Ministerial Council transport body. I discussed the project with my northern colleagues at the transport sectoral meeting that took place on 5 November.That is the last point at which we raised the issue. Following the judicial review decision last year quashing consent for the construction of two sections of the A5, the Department for Regional Development has been undertaking work related to appropriate assessments under the habitats directive of the impact of the A5 proposals on designated environmentally sensitive sites,reviewing and updating the environmental statement for the scheme together with the statutory orders for the scheme.

At the November transport sectoral meeting, the council noted the public consultation on the final report informing the appropriate assessment process and that the new environmental statement, when published, will be subject to public consultation and may lead to a further inquiry. In the communiqué from the meeting, Ministers noted that both Governments remain committed to the A5 scheme.

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