Dáil debates
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate
Road Network
9:42 am
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Gabhaim buíochas as an seans labhairt faoin ábhar iontach tábhachtach seo. Mar atá a fhios ag an Leas-Cheann Comhairle, tá na bealaí difriúil sa tír seo. Mar shampla, ina contae féin, tá an bealach mór ann idir Átha Cliath agus Gaillimh. I gcontae an Aire Stáit, tá bealach ann idir Átha Cliath agus Luimneach, agus tá bealaí eile idir Corcaigh, Port Láirge agus Béal Feirste. Tá bearna mhór ann faoi láthair san iarthuaisceart, idir Doire agus Átha Cliath. Sin an fáth gur ardaigh mé an cheist seo faoi na rudaí tábhachtacha seo.
The Minister of State is welcome. I am delighted he is here because I know that, as he represents Limerick, he will know the value and importance of connectivity. The things that motorists travelling from Limerick to Dublin will take for granted would be not to have cows on the road or tractors holding up traffic for 10 km or 20 km, which is the case in the north west. I appreciate the Minister of State being here. I ask him to use his influence in his position on two specific points, one being the A5. First, I acknowledge the commitment of the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste in regard to the shared island initiative, and there is reference to the A5 within the shared island programme. The Minister of State might update us on the public inquiry, which I believe is due to be held in January 2023, and it is hoped progress can be made after that. I also want to raise the issue of the trans-European transport network, TEN-T, bypassing Stranorlar and Ballybofey - the twin towns, the connectivity between Lifford and Letterkenny, and the Bunnagee link road. We have been waiting a long time for this companion link with the A5, for want of a different expression. It is important and it has to be delivered.
These points have been highlighted, emphasised and re-emphasised for a long time. We can offer a serious counterbalance to Dublin and become a serious net contributor to the overall economy. A new motorway through the north west will provide modern electric charging stations, assisting in the reduction of carbon emissions. We have to try to ensure both of these projects are brought along in tandem. I know there is a strong, dedicated team working between Donegal County Council and that the national roads design office, NRDO, is also working on a business case. The Minister of State might have an update on that and, if not, he might provide that at a later stage.
We have a new university in the north west. The Minister of State knows what has happened in Limerick over the past 20 to 30 years through having that university and having a strong presence of multinational companies and research and development.
We are looking to the likes of Cork, Limerick and Galway to see how we can build on that.
Connectivity is key. When directors from major companies come to Donegal, they have to travel on a road that is not up to scratch. That is not right in terms of positive conversations. We now have a lot of remote working and an emphasis on healthcare. In my next contribution, I will raise the issue of tourism, which I know is close to the Minister of State's heart. I ask for an update on the A5 today, if possible. When will the public inquiry happen in the North? I want to acknowledge the team of workers in the Department for Infrastructure in the North, which is very focused on trying to bring the A5 to fruition. How can we advance the business case that dedicated team is working on? Will we move the two projects in tandem? They are really important for the north west and would be a massive game changer.
9:52 am
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister for Transport has overall responsibility for policy and Exchequer funding for the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads programme in line with Project Ireland 2040 and the national planning framework, NPF.
In the new NDP, launched in October 2021, approximately €5.1 billion was earmarked for new national roads projects to 2030. This funding will enable improved regional accessibility across the country, as well as compact growth, which are key national strategic outcomes. The funding will provide for the development of numerous national road projects, including the completion of projects that are already at construction stage and those close to it, as well as the development of a number of others. Exchequer funding under the new NDP will also facilitate continued protection and renewal of our national roads infrastructure, including motorways, in line with Government policy.
The trans-European transport network, TEN-T, is a selection of strategic transport corridors throughout the EU that have been identified to play a key role in the mobility of goods and passengers through the EU. Three sections of the road network in Donegal have been prioritised for improvement and together they form the Donegal TEN-T priority route improvement project. The N15-N13 Ballybofey to Stranorlar bypass section consists of 9.5 km of mainline and 5.2 km of linking roads. Ballybofey and Stranorlar are connected via a multi-span arch bridge carrying the N15 over the River Finn. The N56-N13 Letterkenny to Manorcunningham section applies to the N56 and two legacy sections of the N13 south through the townland of Lurgybrack, serving the Atlantic corridor, and east towards Manorcunningham, serving the main route to Derry, Belfast and Dublin via Northern Ireland. It consists of 6.3 km of mainline and 2.3 km of link roads. The N14 Manorcunningham to Lifford section project begins at the junction between the N13 and N14. The majority of the project is on the N14 which connects Donegal and Letterkenny to Northern Ireland, Belfast and Dublin, through the Border crossing at Lifford in Donegal and Strabane in Tyrone.
A peer review of the design and environmental assessment for all sections was held in September 2022. The project business case is expected to be ready for submission to the Department for approval at gate 1 of the public spending code in quarter 1 of 2023. The planning and implementation of the A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland. As is the case in all such capital projects, the A5 upgrade scheme is subject to a planning assessment and approval process in Northern Ireland. Since 2012 there have been a number of legal challenges, which have led to unavoidable delays to the implementation of the proposed scheme.
In 2017, the Department for Infrastructure decided to proceed with the A5 scheme. However, the decision was challenged and the decision to proceed was quashed by the High Court in November 2018 when the Department announced it would no longer defend the case. Following the conclusion of the legal action, the Department for Infrastructure updated environmental assessments for the project and undertook further public consultations. Despite the delays which have taken place, the public inquiry will be reopened in January 2023.
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive response. I wish to acknowledge the preparation of the officials in TII and the Department of Transport because they provided important information. The questions I raised were answered and I am grateful for that. It is important that the public start to believe this can happen because given all of the delays and false dawns regarding the A5, people have stopped believing in the project. It is important to send out a positive signal, and I thank the Minister of State for doing that today.
I thank the officials and, most important, the dedicated team in Donegal County Council which has worked hard on this for a long time. It is good to hear that a business case for submission under gate 1 of the public spending code will be made in quarter 1, which is just around the corner in 2023. This information is in the public domain, but it is good to hear in the Dáil that the public inquiry into the reopening of the A5 will happen in January 2023. I thank the Minister of State for providing that information.
I said I would mention tourism because it is the lifeblood of my county and requires connectivity. The Irish Hotels Federation, IFH, has a lobbying day today in Buswells Hotel and will raise issues around the criteria for energy cost supports, insurance and the 9% VAT rate. It is an area close to the Minister of State's heart and any support he can give to the lobby session today would be welcome.
I met Aisling Arnold, of Arnolds Hotel, this morning. Dunfanaghy has a small population, yet this one hotel employs 100 people. That gives us an idea of the significance and importance of tourism to many small towns and villages in our county. Aisling was very keen to point out that the business supports available during Covid kept that small independent businesses open. However, a number of challenges are coming down the track. Arnolds Hotel is celebrating 100 years in business this year and will hold celebrations in January. Having such a legacy of tourism in the county is important and it is important that we hold onto it. Anything the Minister of State can do on energy cost criteria supports, VAT rate, insurance and road connectivity in order to keep small independent businesses alive would be welcome.
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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With regard to the A5, the funding arrangements have been governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and implementation plan, A Fresh Start. Under this agreement, the Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland has been concluded. The Government is committed to delivering on its funding commitment to the A5 project, which is also included in the New Decade, New Approach document of 2020.
Allowing for the time required for the conclusion of the public inquiry and all new decisions to be implemented, together with the possibility of a further legal challenge, the timeframe for the delivery of the A5 project is still uncertain. However, provision of £25 million is being made by the Department of Transport in 2023 to fund the scheme, should this be required.
Regarding the Donegal TEN-T projects, if approved at decision gate 1 of the public spending code, the next steps will be for work to commence on the statutory processes and the preparation of the project brief for the procurement strategy for gate 2 approval under the public spending code. On the benefits of the TENT-T projects, namely, the N13-N15 Ballybofey and Stranorlar project, through the provision of more efficient and safer journeys the project aims to enhance regional accessibility and improve connectivity and traffic flows to and from the north-west region. In addition, the project will improve the function and operation of road-based public transport locally and regionally. The project will provide significant active travel improvements through newly integrated cycle and pedestrian facilities and areas along the route will become more inviting for tourism. The project will reduce air pollution levels caused by the congested queueing of vehicles, traffic noise and the risk of watercourse pollution along the existing road.