Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

With regard to the A5, the funding arrangements have been governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and implementation plan, A Fresh Start. Under this agreement, the Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland has been concluded. The Government is committed to delivering on its funding commitment to the A5 project, which is also included in the New Decade, New Approach document of 2020.

Allowing for the time required for the conclusion of the public inquiry and all new decisions to be implemented, together with the possibility of a further legal challenge, the timeframe for the delivery of the A5 project is still uncertain. However, provision of £25 million is being made by the Department of Transport in 2023 to fund the scheme, should this be required.

Regarding the Donegal TEN-T projects, if approved at decision gate 1 of the public spending code, the next steps will be for work to commence on the statutory processes and the preparation of the project brief for the procurement strategy for gate 2 approval under the public spending code. On the benefits of the TENT-T projects, namely, the N13-N15 Ballybofey and Stranorlar project, through the provision of more efficient and safer journeys the project aims to enhance regional accessibility and improve connectivity and traffic flows to and from the north-west region. In addition, the project will improve the function and operation of road-based public transport locally and regionally. The project will provide significant active travel improvements through newly integrated cycle and pedestrian facilities and areas along the route will become more inviting for tourism. The project will reduce air pollution levels caused by the congested queueing of vehicles, traffic noise and the risk of watercourse pollution along the existing road.

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