Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his very comprehensive reply. I am pleased that it has been confirmed that the matter is expected to be discussed at the plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council on Friday, 4 July in Dublin Castle. I expect that the support expressed at the previous meeting will be upgraded to a commitment. I am pleased the Narrow Water bridge project remains in the mix for funding under INTERREG V. As stated earlier, we must ensure that the bridge project can meet the criteria laid down. People are aware of the Taoiseach's support for the project but very few are aware of the amount of support the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, has given to it. I am sure the Minister and his Department will continue to support it.

The project relating to the A5 is extremely important. I note with interest that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has again drawn the attention of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform to the need, in budgetary terms, to consider the position in respect of this project. I hope that no new public inquiry will be needed next year. We thought that such an inquiry might have been necessary in respect of the Narrow Water bridge project but that did not prove to be the case. I hope that the position in respect of the A5 will be similar and that all of the relevant questions will be answered in a satisfactory fashion in order that the project might proceed on time. I thank the Minister of State for coming before the House.