Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 55: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to fully commit the €19 million earmarked by the previous Government for the widening of the Aughnacloy to Strabane and Derry road in view of the current economic circumstances; the other schemes to which commitments have been made in Northern Ireland; if he is in discussion with his Northern Ireland counterparts regarding reducing his commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18671/11]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Under the agreement of March 2007 between the Irish and British Governments on a funding package to support the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government made a commitment to provide funding of £400million / €580million in a roads investment package for Northern Ireland which includes the upgrading of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Derry and the A8 road from Belfast to Larne.

At the North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting on 10 June last, the Council noted the progress to date on the A5 and A8 projects and agreed to consider a further progress report at the next NSMC Plenary meeting.

Drawdown of funding is subject to the achievement of agreed project milestones. The first payment (stg£8 million) from the Irish Government's contribution was made in 2009 following achievement of the second project milestone and a further payment of stg£11million is due to paid this year following the achievement of the third project milestone in November 2010.

The A5 and A8 projects will continue to be monitored under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council.