Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Transport his commitment for funding the construction of a dual carriageway from Aughnacloy to Derry the A5; the estimated cost of the project; the progress to date on the project; the amount of money already paid by his Department; the schedule of future payments; if the construction of a dual carriageway from Aughnacloy to Dublin is part of the commitment made by him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2277/11]

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Under the agreement of March 2007 between the Irish and British Governments on a funding package to support the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the Government made a commitment to provide funding of £400 million, or €580 million, in a roads investment package for Northern Ireland which will contribute to the upgrading of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Derry to dual carriageway status. The Government's contribution will be made on the basis of actual expenditure incurred during the development and construction phases.

In this context, drawdown of funding depends on the achievement of agreed project milestones and clearance by the cross-Border roads steering group and the North-South Ministerial Council. A payment of €9 million was made in 2009 towards the cost of the project. The A5 project is being implemented by the roads service of Northern Ireland and the overall project budget is a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities. I understand the third project milestone – publication of draft orders – was achieved in November last year.

With regard to the Aughnacloy to Dublin route, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme element of Transport 21, but the implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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A good road between Dublin and Derry would certainly be welcome and desirable. I presume the Minister meant to say €480 million, as distinct from €580 million. It is in the region of half a billion euro. Is that part of the text of the St. Andrews Agreement? If so, was the commitment to build a road from Derry to Dublin, or from Derry to Aughnacloy? In other words, are the two sections of the road to be done simultaneously? Are we to have two dual-carriageways? Is that part of the commitment or is it simply a commitment that the Irish Government intended to provide the €480 million to the Northern Ireland Government?

Do we have any control over the delivery of that money or over the planning development that takes place? If the Government in the North of Ireland was to change its mind and have a motorway, will we still deliver the money? If it changes it mind and has a two-in-one road, will that be the same? Is the commitment that as the money is requested the Irish Government provides it? Most of the road development that has taken place to date has been in the context of public private partnerships, which require very little money up front. At present, half a billion euro is being provided to Northern Ireland when the British Government is giving us a bailout of €7 billion. It sounds not just ironic but contradictory.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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If one makes a commitment at a time when money is available, one cannot really decide to renege on it when a project starts. I do not think that would be helpful in any context, but particularly in the context of the peace process. This agreement was made in the context of the overall agreement leading to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive in 2007. We agreed to provide the package of money comprising £400 million in a roads-investment package for Northern Ireland. In light of the Deputy's question, it is to be paid in the context of achievements of agreed project milestones and clearance by the cross-Border group and the North-South Ministerial Council. Those milestones are clearly laid out and each time, as they are met, there will be an entitlement to draw down on that money.

As regards the type of road involved, similar to here, that is a matter for the Northern Ireland Roads Service, which makes the decision, having gone through due process. It is envisaged, however, that it will be a dual-carriageway.

On the procurement of the road, contractors have been appointed to three sections of the route. Section one comprises the new buildings to the south of Strabane, section two is south of Strabane to south of Omagh, while section three is south of Omagh to the Border at Aughnacloy. It is expected that the scheduled completion date for the whole lot will be July 2015. The £400 million commitment is for the Aughnacloy-Derry section of that road. What the NRA will do on either end is a matter for that authority within its own budgets.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I presume that no value-for-money audit has been conducted for this project, as has been the case concerning much of the road building that has taken place. Do we not have a difficult situation here, however? Can we afford to put half a billion euro up front at this point? The Minister has already cut the PSO to Derry, which is the connection between Derry and Dublin. The bailout we obtained from the British Government is in the region of €7 billion to €8 billion. Meanwhile, in the current budget we are cutting all services right, left and centre, including education and social services. Is there scope therefore for revisiting the arrangements made? I have not been able to find a copy of any text concerning these arrangements. Will the Minister publish the text of the commitments and agreements made?

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It sounds to me very much as if the Deputy is looking for a way to renege on this commitment, if he gets into Government after the next election. I hope that is not true because if he does so he will renege on the people of Donegal, apart altogether from the commitment to the peace process of which this is a part. This was agreed as part of the deal that restored the Northern Ireland Executive, but it sounds very much like the Deputy is looking for a way to renege on it.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Minister should not put words in my mouth.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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It is the only thing I can conclude. I am a reasonably intelligent person.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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This side of the House would like to see the facts before embarking on projects like this.

Noel Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)
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Given the whole tone of the questions posed by the Deputy and the line he is following, it would appear to me that he believes this money can be reneged on, that we can renege on the people of Donegal, and that we do not need this road. We got involved in this project because the Government felt this was in our mutual interest. It was certainly helpful for the peace process but was also helpful for the people of Letterkenny and north-west Donegal to ensure that they have a direct link to Dublin.

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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The Minister did not answer the question. Will he publish the commitments and arrangements?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am sorry but we need to move on. I am calling Question No. 59 in the name of Deputy Durkan.