Imelda Munster (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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466. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of the St. Andrews's Agreement commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 to Derry; and the estimated cost of the project in 2017 and 2018. [29169/18]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Following on from the St Andrew's Agreement, a joint infrastructure investment package was announced in March 2007 by the British and Irish Governments in the context of the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive. Funding of £400 million (sterling) towards the cost of the A5 project was part of that package.

During the financial crisis the Government decided to defer its funding commitment to the A5 project but indicated that the Government would provide £50m (sterling) in two tranches in 2015 and 2016 towards the project.

Subsequently the Fresh Start Agreement in November 2015 reaffirmed the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50 million (sterling) 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 once Northern Ireland authorities were in a position to start work on the project.

As the Northern Ireland authorities are responsible for implementation of the scheme, my Department does not have details of expenditure related to the project for 2017 and 2018.

Following the Capital Plan Review in 2017 funding is being allocated to my Department in the years 2019 to 2021 to meet the Government's commitment in the Fresh Start Agreement.