Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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5. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on any engagement he or his officials have had with stakeholders in relation to the A5/N2 upgrade plans. [43065/23]

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I often say that we need to relieve Dublin and revive the rest of the country. That is really what we need to do.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I agree.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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One way to do that relates to the A5 road, which while most of it runs through the North, goes from County Donegal to County Monaghan. These are parts of the country that have been very much left behind by successive Governments. What has been done the Minister's officials regarding the works on this road? The Minister will be aware that Sinn Féin tabled a motion on this a number of months ago because of the increasing number of people who have tragically lost their lives on this stretch of road. There needs to be a commitment from the Government to deliver this road project.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I am aware that the Department is making some progress in respect of the A5 and that much of the delay is on the northern side of the Border. That being said, it needs to be recognised that this stretch of road is a vital connection from Donegal and the north-west through Tyrone and into the South. It needs to be prioritised by Governments on both sides of the Border. Unfortunately, as the Minister said, the Executive is not up and running in the North, which is causing a number difficulties, of which this is just one.

We have to recognise that there is an international agreement, the St. Andrew's Agreement, in place, part of which was to see this project delivered. That agreement was reached nearly 20 years ago at this stage and there is also a commitment in New Decade, New Approach to deliver this road. Unfortunately, people are still losing their lives on the A5. Only a few months ago we saw another tragedy on it. As we think of all the people who lose their lives on the roads, we have to recognise, as I pointed out earlier to the Minister's colleague, that investment in roads is part of the solution, as is driver behaviour. We need to see investment in this road.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Deputy makes a valid point about the Executive and Assembly in the North. I do not think the project can progress without an Executive in place. Leaving the legality of the position to one side, in the absence of an Executive and Assembly, we do not even have counterparts at a political level to speak to about the projects. We need that.

I recognise that connectivity to the north west is vital. The strategic rail review was important in that regard-----

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, it was.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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because as well as the A5, it made a very significant proposal for a rail spur from Portadown through Dungannon, Omagh, Strabane to Letterkenny, as well as to Derry. That is a hugely significant and potentially beneficial project. Again, all these projects will be very expensive. I think the latest cost estimate by the Executive was £1.6 billion. We have committed £75 million to the project but that does not add up to £1.6 billion. The UK Government will have to make a key decision on the contribution from its exchequer. We will engage with it and the Northern Executive and Assembly when they are back in place.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I understand that and it is a great frustration to everyone, bar the DUP, that the Executive is not up and running. We need to see it up and running, working and delivering for people. The delivery of this road project is vital. It is reflection of one of the idiosyncrasies of the planning process on both sides of the Border, particularly in the North, that, unfortunately, a small number of people who have been objecting to this road for decades have been able to hold up its progress. We need to see the greater good being delivered. It is for the greater good that we have a road that is fit for purpose and works for people across the North.

I acknowledge the impact of the all-island rail review and the possibilities it raises. However, the A5 exists and needs to be improved and developed. We need to see new sections of it being put in place. The issue in regard to rail is much further down the track, if the Minister will pardon the pun. It is much a more difficult thing to try to deliver in the timescale in which we need to see this being delivered.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy.

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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This road is used by people every day to come and go to work. They need to have an appropriate road in place.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I am very familiar with the road. I go up to Donegal and Derry a lot. We need an all-island approach to transport-----

Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Hear, hear.

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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-----in the same way that we need an all-island approach to the environment and so many different areas. There are budgetary issues here, however. All Deputies have a list as long as their arm of various projects that have to be funded. Road building in particular is increasingly expensive. We are seeing that in recent tenders. We often have to make hard choices. Those hard choices have to advance some projects over others. Despite some of the earlier conversations, there is not an endless tap of money. That requires difficult political decisions. If we are to invest further in some projects, it means we have to invest less in others. That presents a real political challenge.