Seanad debates
Wednesday, 13 December 2017
Commencement Matters
Road Projects
10:30 am
Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to raise the issue of the A5 road project, which is an extension of the N2 project linking Derry and Letterkenny to Dublin. It has been in the pipeline for well over a decade and I am raising it this morning because a Fine Gael Deputy for Donegal recently said the Government was steadfast in its commitment to the project, but omitted to say that when the Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, was Minister for Transport he reduced the capital funding allocation from €450 million to €50 million. I do not think that can be described as "steadfast commitment" to the project on the part of the Fine Gael Government. I am pleased that the current Minister, Deputy Ross, has made this project a priority but he is constrained by the decision taken by Deputy Varadkar when he was Minister. This project is vital to the north west region, particularly in light of Brexit and the constraints Brexit will bring to bear in Donegal. While we do not know the full implications of Brexit yet, it will certainly not be economically beneficial for the north west region.
There is a tentative commitment to provide money and a huge amount in capital spend will be required but it is absolutely essential to the entire north west region. I do not know if there is any scope to seek additional moneys from the European Union as a result of Ireland standing firm with Europe in recent negotiations. One might argue that the European Union was using Dublin to get at Britain, to some extent. Irrespective of that, there is a case to be made at European level, in the context of the peace process and concerns over Brexit, for additional moneys to be ring-fenced for capital infrastructure investment in Border regions, particularly in Donegal and particularly for this project.
I travelled from Donegal last night, a dark dreary night, and the north part of the road, which is a stretch of some 42 miles, is dangerous and difficult to travel along. There is a need to provide the A5 project and I hope moneys can be found to meet the capital requirements of the project.
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I acknowledge the fact that the Senator has been an advocate for this project for a long time. His voice is welcome and keeps us to our commitment to the A5, which remains steadfast. It is even more important in light of the implications of Brexit. We are not yet fully familiar with them but any uncertainty will cause unease in the Senator's native Donegal and in the north west. We hope to alleviate that.
The commitment of the Government to this project has not been reduced in any way. A Fresh Start, the Stormont agreement and implementation plan which was concluded in November 2015, committed the Government to providing funding of £75 million for the A5 road upgrade to ensure the first phase of the project, from Newbuildings to north of Strabane, could commence as soon as the necessary planning issues were resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. Under the agreement it was envisaged that construction of phase 1 of the A5 would start in 2017, with a view to completion in 2019.In keeping with this timeline, Government funding was to be provided in three tranches of £25 million in 2017, 2018 and 2019, respectively. However, the planning process in the North relating to the revised A5 scheme took longer than anticipated. The Northern Department for Infrastructure only announced the decision to proceed with the scheme in late November. It also indicated that the project would be ready to start in 2018.
Financial provision for meeting the Government's commitment to the A5 project was made in the extra capital plan review funding and will be included in my Department's budget from 2019 to 2021, inclusive. Any commitment on funding for further phases of the A5 improvement scheme will be a matter for consideration at Government level. My Department's role at this point is to liaise with Northern Ireland officials regarding the implementation of the existing Government commitment as set out in A Fresh Start.
I hope that this answers the question about our commitment. The planning and implementation of the upgrade project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities. The current funding arrangements for the A5 are governed by the Stormont House Agreement, which reaffirmed the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50 million for the A5 project and committed an additional £25 million to ensure that the first phase of the project from Newbuildings to north of Strabane could commence.
As part of the capital plan review process, funding is now being provided in my Department's budget to meet the Government's commitment under A Fresh Start and my officials will be liaising with their Northern Ireland counterparts on project implementation arrangements.
Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail)
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That sounds positive.
Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)
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It does indeed. The Minister is committed to this project, and I thank him and his officials for their level of engagement with their counterparts in the North. This is a key project for the north west. The Minister will do his utmost to keep it on the agenda and secure the additional commitment, but I am unsure as to whether an opportunity for additional funding at European level could be explored down the road. I commend the Minister on his efforts and thank him for attending.
Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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It is not as easy as it sounds to raise European funds for projects of this sort, as we are close to our ceiling, but we will certainly keep this project in mind if European funds become available. I acknowledge the role that Senator Ó Domhnaill is playing in keeping the Government aware of this project and high on our agenda. He will not find us wanting.