Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I am seeking an update on the actions taken by the Government so far in reconfirming its commitment to the A5 road project between Derry and Aughnacloy. As the Minister of State knows, this is a project that emanated from the St. Andrews Agreement in March 2007. The British and Irish Governments, with the Northern parties, agreed to joint-fund this project. Unfortunately, due to a court decision in the North last week, planning permission for the project has been overturned and the project will be delayed for up to a year. We need a reaction from the Irish Government, similar to the partnership-type approach in 2007, to liaise with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to ensure the funding earmarked for the project continues to be assigned to it and that the Irish Government continues to maintain its commitment to the project, which was clear from the start.

Since the Government came into office, the commitment to the funding assigned to the project has been reduced. Once, we were co-funding the A5 road and were committed to having it in operation by the end of 2015. Now, the Government will give £25 million to the project in 2015, followed by another £25 million in 2016. It is essential that the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport meet with their Northern counterparts to show an urgency and respect for the significance of this road to Donegal and the north west, as well as the east of Northern Ireland. They must re-emphasise the fact that they will work together to have this road finished.

The Northern Ireland Executive has committed to spending £100 million this year on the project, followed by another £100 million over the next two years. It is crucial that the Irish Government work with the Executive to ensure no question arises over the project’s funding, which is essential for the completion of the road.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I am taking this matter on behalf of my colleague the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

Arising from the St. Andrews Agreement, the Irish Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry, thus improving access to Letterkenny and north Donegal. The Government's original commitment was to have been a contribution of £400 million for investment in roads infrastructure in Northern Ireland, which was included in a joint infrastructure investment package announced in March 2007 by the British and Irish Governments in the lead-up to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive.

As the planning process for the A5 progressed, the Irish Government contributed £22 million to the project. It had been envisaged, subject to the outcome of the planning process, that the balance of the Irish Government's contribution would be paid between 2013 and 2016 in accordance with the achievement of specified milestones during the construction phase of the project. However, following an extensive capital review conducted in 2011 by the Government and in view of the current economic position, it proved necessary to defer the funding commitment to the A5. At the North-South Ministerial Council plenary on 18 November 2011, it was noted that the provision of further funding by the Irish Government for the A5 road was being deferred but that the Government would provide £25 million per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project.

In February 2012, the Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development announced the Northern Ireland Executive's plan for funding two significant sections of the A5, between Derry and Strabane and between Omagh and Ballygawley, at an estimated cost of £330 million, which included the £50 million to be provided by the Irish Government. Following publication of the necessary statutory orders in advance of construction, the decision by the Northern Ireland Minister for Regional Development to proceed with the two sections of the A5 was challenged by a group known as the Alternative A5 Alliance.

On 12 March 2013, the Northern Ireland High Court rejected the overwhelming majority of the applicants' grounds of challenge. One of the applicants' grounds was, however, upheld, as the judge held that an appropriate assessment under the habitats directive should have been carried out on the scheme. On that basis he indicated he was minded to quash the decision of the Minister to approve the scheme. At a further hearing on 8 April 2013, the judge confirmed he would quash the orders relating to the A5 scheme.

The outcome of the judicial review is disappointing, as we had hoped to see early progress on a project with so much potential for cross-Border co-operation and development of the north-west region. The project was discussed at the North-South Ministerial Council transport sectorial on 17 April and the Minister for Regional Development now plans to the undertake the environmental assessment required under the habitats directive. This is a necessary first step to progress the project. The project will be delayed but the Irish Government remains committed to the A5 project, which it fully recognises as being of strategic importance to the north-west region and the island as a whole.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his response. I thought it might have included an explanation as to why the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is not here to take this important Topical Issue. We have not heard any public comment from him, the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste since this project was delayed over a week ago. The least the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, could have done was to come to Chamber to address the issue. I did not table this question to hear the story of the A5 to date. I tabled it to hear what the Government intended do to ensure the project stays on track. Its response - to put it over to the Northern Irish authorities to drive the project forward - is not good enough. We need to see the Irish Government step up to the plate and take on the partnership approach, which was key in ensuring the project got off the ground in the first place. Leaving the project to the Northern Ireland authorities alone is not good enough. Key to its future is the partnership approach remaining between the Irish and British Governments and the Northern Ireland parties.

A serious situation has arisen because, as I outlined earlier, there are time conditions attached to the money the Northern Ireland Executive is spending on this project. In the past year £10 million a month was transferred to other projects because this project was being delayed. Unless we see the political will and effort to address the issue of this funding, which was coming primarily from Westminster, it will be further eroded.

Instead of a fob-off, which I believe I am getting from the Minister of State, I want to see real political resolve from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure we are partners in this project and that it goes ahead. If a dual carriageway from Dublin to Cork had its planning permission overturned last week and there were time conditions attached to its funding, we would not see the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, not coming into the Dáil today or the lack of comment in the past week from the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Minister.

There is political support for this project in Northern Ireland. I want to make sure that overt political support is given by our leaders. I accept that the financial commitment from the Irish Government is as stated last week, but I want to see a partnership approach and political leadership given by the Minister for Transport and our other political leaders to ensure we play our part in getting this important and crucial project for the future of the north west delivered.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I am somewhat shocked by Deputy McConalogue's overall assessment of this issue. This viewpoint is representative of the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, who has clearly stated that the Government is committed. We cannot interfere with the court in Belfast. It has made a ruling and the project has been deferred. Does the Deputy expect the Irish Government to overturn that decision? He should come back into the real world. The Deputy must remember that in 2007 the country was awash with money. We know what we inherited from the previous Government. We should call a spade a spade. This Government is committed to the project and, with limited resources, is making the funding agreed at the last Council meeting available. Is the Deputy implying that that is not the case? Is he implying that we can interfere with the court in Belfast?

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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No. I am saying we must show leadership and commitment by being partners in this project.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There is no doubt about leadership in this country; it is quite definitive compared to that of the previous leader.

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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Can the Minister keep to the important point?

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I will keep to the point, but the Deputy made a point about leadership. There is no doubt about leadership in this matter. There is no ambiguity, and the Taoiseach has stated that categorically. We have committed the money but we cannot interfere with the planning process in Northern Ireland. When that is resolved the Government's commitment of financial support will still be in place. I am speaking directly on behalf of the M|inister, Deputy Varadkar, who is one of the most hard-working Ministers in this Government. It is not an indication of lack of interest that he is not here. He apologises that he cannot be here, but that is the clear message the Deputy will get from him. I have no doubt about this issue. The Government is clear on it. The Taoiseach is clear on the commitment given by the Government and the Deputy is being political in coming in here and insinuating something different. I am more than surprised by the Deputy's attitude with regard to the political certainty surrounding this issue. We do not interfere - nor does the Northern Ireland Executive - with-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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It is not interference. It is a partnership approach and we need to see the political priority being given-----

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There is no partnership approach when it comes to the habitats directive. This is-----

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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There is in terms of the overall project.

John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There is a commitment. At the last ministerial meeting there was an agreement. The reply clearly states: "The project will be delayed but the Irish Government remains committed to the A5 project which it fully recognises is of strategic importance." That is the Government's commitment. We have committed the money. That is an extraordinary commitment in these difficult times with the legacy Fianna Fáil left us, which is no money for anything.