Written answers

Tuesday, 24 May 2016

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Capital Expenditure Programme

Photo of Dessie EllisDessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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594. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funds pledged and the funds that have been ring-fenced in the capital spending plan for the completion of the A5 dual carriageway, the Narrow Water bridge, the Ulster Canal and the north-west gateway initiative, in tabular form. [11460/16]

Photo of Dessie EllisDessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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595. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funds which are required but not yet budgeted to complete the A5 dual carriageway, the Narrow Water bridge, the Ulster Canal and the north-west gateway initiative. [11461/16]

Photo of Shane RossShane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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​I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together.

The Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start reaffirmed the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50 million for the A5 project and committed an additional £25 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning issues have been resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. Under the Agreement it is envisaged that construction of Phase 1 of the A5 will start in 2017 with a view to completion in 2019. In keeping with the revised project timeline, the Government funding is to be provided in three tranches of £25 million in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively. While there is no provision for this expenditure in my Department's capital budget at this time, the provisions of the Fresh Start agreement reflect the Government's commitment to the project as set out in the Capital Plan published in September 2015.

Under the Fresh Start Agreement, the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government agreed to undertake a review of the proposed Narrow Water bridge project with a view to identifying options for its future development, for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council in June 2016.  Pending completion of such review no specific funding provision has been made to date.

The Ulster Canal and the North West Gateway initiative are not within my functional area of responsibility.

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