Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy said, there was a very useful debate initiated by his party on the A5 project in Northern Ireland earlier in the summer, which afforded all Members the chance to put forward their views on this important project. The importance of the A5 transport corridor is recognised in the national planning framework, NPF. The NPF's strategic outcome 2, enhanced regional accessibility, specifically calls for improved access to the north west and notes the importance of the A5 in that regard. That policy support has been backed up through financial commitments made in 2015, in the New Decade, New Approach agreement in 2020 and was most recently reiterated in the NDP in 2021 in respect of a Stg£75 million allocation from the Irish Government to support the project. Obviously, as a project situated wholly within Northern Ireland, the planning, funding and delivery of this project is primarily a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive and relevant Northern authorities. I understand that the northern Department for Infrastructure expects the project to complete its final planning stages later this year with the publication of a final report by the relevant public inquiry.

The overall funding package for the project is presumably the subject of ongoing discussion between relevant northern authorities and the UK Government and will no doubt reflect the commitments made between all parties in New Decade, New Approach. On the southern side, funding is being provided in relation to proposed upgrades to the N2 in County Monaghan, with more than €3 million being allocated this year alone. Planned improvements to that road are a necessary part of improving access to the north west generally. I can confirm that my Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. These engagements consider a range of North-South transport proposals, including the A5, and further engagement is scheduled over the coming months.

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