Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1329. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Narrow Water bridge project; if reports of it being in jeopardy are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35786/17]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1330. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Narrow Water bridge project; if under planning law, reports of it being in jeopardy are accurate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35787/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1329 and 1330 together.

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 (NSMC).

Following on from consultation with stakeholders, I understand that an options paper is being prepared for consideration by the North South Ministerial Council later in the year.

The position in relation to planning permission for a bridge at Narrow Water as previously proposed is a matter for the relevant authorities and my Department has no role in that.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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1331. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the discussions he has had with either the Northern Ireland authorities and or the UK government regarding the progression of the A5 and N2 cross-Border motorway project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36120/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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As regards the  A5 scheme, the planning and implementation of the project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities.  As the Deputy is aware, the Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start - reaffirmed the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50m for the A5 project and committed an additional £25m to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the planning process in Northern Ireland has been concluded.

The A5 project has been discussed on a regular basis under the aegis of the NSMC Plenary and Transport Sectoral meetings. In addition my Department is represented on the Senior Officials Group established to oversee implementation of the Fresh Start Agreement.  The most recent meeting of this Group took place on 7th June this year at which the Northern Ireland officials indicated that the Department for Infrastructure was considering the findings of the A5 Inquiry Inspector's report.

As regards the N2, while I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme the planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.