Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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, and 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. Provision of £25 million sterling is being made by my Department in 2023 for funding the scheme, should this be required.

The Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland estimates the total scheme cost for the A5 project is £1.6 billion with completion expected by 2032/2033 and the largest funding demands over the 2025 to 2028 period. The Department for Infrastructure expects to have the report of the Public Inquiry by year end and possibly sooner. The Department for Infrastructure has informed the Department of Transport that construction of the Main Works is currently planned to start in April or May of 2024 with the commencement of Section 1 from Newbuildings to Strabane. However, this is subject to a number of conditions being met, including a positive outcome from the report of the recently concluded Public Inquiry, completion of the Statutory Orders and agreement of a Target Cost with the contractor. If there is a further legal challenge the start dates will likely be revisited.

I can confirm that my Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. These engagements consider a range of North/South transport proposals, including the A5. A meeting between officials from my Department and their counterparts from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the A5 will take place in the coming days.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals.

The N2 Ardee to South of Castleblayney bypass road scheme received an allocation of €600k in 2023. The N2 Clontibret to the Border scheme received an allocation of €2,500,000, which matches funding provided through the EU Connecting Europe Facility.

As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the N2 projects will be kept under review for 2024 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct update as to the projects on the N2. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.