Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 14: To ask the Minister for Transport; Tourism and Sport his plans for capital expenditure on transport infrastructure outside of the major Dublin projects being explored. [33433/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to capital expenditure on transport outside the major Dublin projects. Funding for all transport capital projects for the next five years will be determined in the context of the capital review which will be published tomorrow. I will announce my Department's plans for capital expenditure immediately thereafter.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Is the Minister in a position to confirm whether there was an underspend of €340 million in respect of capital projects? There is a commitment in the St. Andrews Agreement of 2006 in respect of the A5 Dublin to Derry road. The project relating to this road forms part of the cross-Border initiatives in respect of which the Government stated it would provide 50% of the funding. The road in question would link Dublin to Donegal. North-west Donegal is one of the areas which has been badly affected by recent events and has a major unemployment problem. The death rate on the roads in north-west Donegal is one of the highest in the country. The A5 project is vital in the context of trying to address the matters to which I refer. It would be disastrous if the project were not to proceed. The Minister, Deputy Varadkar, spoke to Mr. Pat Doherty MLA at some stage. He gave some form of a commitment in a written reply on 20 September 2011, stating "in the context of the March 2007 agreement between the Irish and British Governments on a funding package to support the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government made a commitment to provide funding for a roads investment package for Northern Ireland to contribute to the upgrading of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Derry/Londonderry to dual-carriageway status." In the context of what is being rolled out in the next couple of days, will the Minister be able to make an announcement on this or will the Government scrap another commitment given to the people?

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This is a matter which, ultimately, must be decided at the North-South Ministerial Council next week. What I can say is that arising from the St. Andrews Agreement, the Government is committed to co-funding the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry, thus improving access to Letterkenny and north Donegal. We remain politically committed to the project and expect some work to commence during the lifetime of the 2012-2016 capital programme. However, the exact timeframe and the sections to be commenced and completed during the programme must be worked out with the Northern Ireland Executive in the coming months.

Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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It is clear that the Minister has just mothballed the project. He clearly has a political desire or willingness, but he is not prepared to honour what was a significant decision taken by a previous Government in the context of an international agreement.

I could make all the political points - my colleague, Deputy McConalogue from Donegal, will do that in another forum - on the impact that funding would have had on Donegal. It is a significant part of that international agreement concluded in good faith by both sides and while I recognise the difficult financial circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is somewhat reprehensible if the Government is prepared in the current climate to shelve or mothball that project.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps Deputy Dooley did not hear me correctly. I stated that we remain politically committed to the project and expect work to commence during the lifetime of the 2012-2016 capital programme. That is neither shelving nor mothballing.

However, the commitment of €560 million over the next four or five years is an enormous and difficult commitment to honour given the financial situation we face. This must be discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council. We remain committed to the project but the exact timeframe of the project and the sections of the road which can be commenced during that period must be worked out with the Northern Ireland Executive.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I hear what the Minister is saying but this is a commitment. This is an international commitment as well as one between us and the northern authorities. We need a better idea, not merely to wait for the meeting of the North-South ministerial body to discuss this. We must have something concrete and we must say it will be done in a certain timeframe. The Minister is saying he is not scrapping it but, effectively, he is putting it on the long finger to such a point where it could be five or ten years down the line. That would be unacceptable given what has happened.

It does not say much for relations between North and South. We all are trying to build up the continuity between North and South to foster proper relations North and South. It is something that really needs to be addressed. It was a firm commitment and it should be adhered to.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The situation we face North and South of the Border is difficult. I spent the bank holiday weekend in Belfast and one of the major issues being discussed when I was there was a decision of the Northern Ireland Executive, which includes members of Sinn Féin, to close the accident and emergency department at Belfast City Hospital. These are the kind of decisions being made North and South of the Border. It is interesting to see how good Sinn Féin is at cutting spending in the Six Counties-----

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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Unfortunately, we do not have fiscal control.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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-----relative to the position it takes here.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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There is a big difference.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Ellis states that his party does not have fiscal control in the Six Counties. We do not have fiscal controls in the 26 Counties either.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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But that is out of choice.

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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This country is entirely dependent on the kindness of strangers, the IMF and the EU, to fund its budget deficit and pay its public servants and pensions. That is the situation we are in. In that context, difficult decisions must be made.