Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

256. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 290 of 18 April 2023, if he has made a submission or if his officials have made a submission; and if he will attend public consultations in Northern Ireland in respect of progressing the A5 project. [23174/23]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The planning and implementation of the A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland.

The funding arrangements in relation to the A5 have been governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start. Under this Agreement the Government is committed to provide funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland is concluded. The Government is committed to deliver on its funding commitment to the A5 project, which is also included in the "New Decade, New Approach" document of 2020.

As is the case for all such capital projects, the A5 upgrade scheme is subject to the planning assessment and approval process in Northern Ireland and since 2012 there have been a number of legal challenges. This has led to unavoidable delays to the implementation of the proposed scheme.

The Planning Appeals Commission has advised that the public inquiry will re-open at 10.30am on Monday, 15th May 2023 in the Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh, and will continue there until Friday,19th May. After a week’s break, the inquiry will convene in Omagh Enterprise Centre, Gortrush Industrial Estate from Tuesday, 30th May to Friday, 2nd June 2023. There are currently no plans by my Department for a submission to be made to the public inquiry, and I will not be in attendance. It is my understanding that both Donegal County Council and Monaghan County Council will be making submissions.

Allowing for the time required for the conclusion of the public inquiry and for all new decisions to be implemented, together with the possibility of a further legal challenge, the timeframe for delivery of the A5 project is still uncertain. However, provision of £25 million sterling has been made by my Department in 2023 for funding the scheme, should this be required. The Government remains committed to supporting this crucial infrastructure project.