Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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697. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he envisages being in a position to produce the funding that he had intended giving towards the dual carriageway between Ballygawley and Newbuildings, funding of some €400 million; if he envisages contributing towards a proposed affordable upgrade of the existing road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2963/13]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The previous Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 in Northern Ireland.  However, it made no provision to meet the costs of the A5 post-2012 in either the Four Year Plan or the Infrastructure Investment Priorities Plan 2010 to 2016.  Given that £400 million sterling would be required between 2013 and 2016 and given the current state of the Exchequer, it was not feasible to provide this level of funding in that timeframe. Therefore, at the NSMC Plenary meeting, on 8 November 2011, Ministers noted that the provision of further funding by the Irish Government for the A5 road was being deferred but that the Irish Government will provide £25 million per annum in 2015 and 2016 towards the project.  At the subsequent June 2012 NSMC Plenary meeting, it was noted that the NI Executive had announced an investment package of major roads including two sections of the A5 project.

In addition, it was noted that the Irish Government remains committed to the completion of the co-funded A5 project which is of strategic importance to the North West Region and the island as a whole, but that the Government is not in a position to make funding commitments for the period post-2016 in advance of its consideration of the next capital review framework.  The NSMC plenary approved a funding implementation plan for the A5 project to the end of 2016 which incorporated the £50 million committed by the Irish Government. The implementation of the project is a matter for the Northern Ireland Road Service.