Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I do indeed. This is actually local to my area. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak to this motion and Sinn Féin for bringing it forward. More than anyone, I want to thank the A5 Enough is Enough group, which was established in November last year in response to the horrific and untimely deaths on the A5 of too many in their community. I welcome them to the Gallery.

The A5 is an extremely dangerous road that runs through Tyrone and Derry. It is used by many of my constituents in Donegal because it forms part of the main road link from Dublin to Donegal. I have used the road many times on my way to Dublin from various parts of Donegal, so I know exactly how unsafe it is. At least 47 people have died along this 86 km stretch of road since a plan to upgrade the entire route to a dual carriageway was approved by the Assembly at Stormont in 2007. That is shocking and it is clear that something needs to be quickly done to address the matter.

The Enough is Enough group is calling on the project to go ahead and for the new A5 to be built immediately in order to save lives. It states that in order to start saving lives right now, road improvements, such as better lighting at junctions, overtaking lanes and improved signs, should be installed in the meantime and as soon as possible. Even if the new A5 were to start, the current road will be in use for a number of years. We should be prioritising making Irish roads as safe as possible for road users and saving as many lives as we possibly can across the island. The A5 route is also extremely important infrastructure, linking the North and South of our country. It is a major route for those living and working in Border counties such as Donegal and across the north west.

There are many social and economic reasons for us to ensure the A5 is upgraded. It was recently reported that, based on disposable income, Donegal is the poorest county in Ireland, with average disposable incomes 22% below the State average. There is no doubt the lack of infrastructure in the county and across the north west impacts the local economy. Improvements in the region's infrastructure are desperately needed if real improvements are to be made to the local economy.

Unfortunately, people in the north west cannot rely on public transport to travel because the area is so badly connected. However, we are forced to travel because of the lack of facilities in the area, meaning a car is a must in the region. I have spoken many times of how the high level of forced car ownership in the north west, increased car ownership and dangerous roads will, unfortunately, lead to many more accidents. Despite this, the Government continues to drag its heels. It needs to take action and support the actions required to bring about an end to a process that is now more than 15 years long. Work on the new A5 needs to begin as soon as possible. Further delays to the project will only cost more lives and will continue to have a negative effect on the development of the north west.

The Government also needs to ensure upgrade projects for other routes connecting to the A5 are approved and delivered as quickly as possible, including the N2 Ardee to Castleblayney scheme, the Clontibret to the Border road scheme and the TEN-T upgrade in Donegal. It is for this reason that I support today’s motion. I support the call on the Government to "honour the commitment to fund 50% of the cost of the A5 upgrade, so that it is commenced and completed as quickly as possible ... saving lives and enhancing the social and economic wellbeing of the North West region" and to take "all necessary steps to ensure that the Ten-T priority route improvement "projects for Donegal, connecting to the A5 and related N2 upgrades, receive approval and are delivered as speedily as possible".

I also call on the Government to do more to ensure that road safety messaging is being delivered to all road users and to further educate people on the danger of driving on the A5 and many other roads in the north-west region. The Road Safety Authority, RSA, has been making great efforts to educate young people in schools about the dangers of roads. I encourage it to expand its reach to include other organisations. I applaud the A5 Enough is Enough group for involving local and county GAA clubs in its campaign.

We should be making every possible effort to ensure that people of all ages and backgrounds in the north west are informed and aware of the dangers that are posed by many of the roads they frequently use. The main solution to this is the A5 upgrade, which has to happen urgently. I welcome the fact the report is due to be published by the end of the year. There should be no delays from that point onwards to ensure the new A5 is delivered for everybody in the region.

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