Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach's announcement yesterday that the €27 million earmarked for the very important A5 western transport corridor, running all the way from Clontibret in County Monaghan to Derry city, has now been abandoned is another shocking blow to the Border counties. In November 2011, the Government announced that this contribution would be delayed due to austerity. In February 2012, the Government committed to phased development of that project. Now this project is one of the first to be made collateral damage of the Government's overspend on the children's hospital. With Brexit hurtling towards us, the Border counties cannot wait any longer for the A5 western transport corridor. The lack of investment is now definitely hampering the Border counties' potential.

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