Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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113. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that adequate funding is allocated to a local authority in 2024 to advance proposed road projects (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8566/24]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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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 planning and construction 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 Clontibret to the Border scheme is receiving an allocation of €1.6 million in 2024, with funding also being provided through the EU Connecting Europe Facility. While it was not possible to provide an allocation to the N2 Ardee to South of Castleblayney bypass road scheme, it remains part of the NDP, and as with all NDP projects will be considered for funding in future years.

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.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the level of funding that will be provided for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8569/24]

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 were governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start, and under this Agreement the Government had committed to provide funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland was concluded. Provision of £25 million sterling was made by my Department in 2024 for funding the scheme should it have been required.

It was announced on February 20th that as part of Government funding commitments for Shared Island projects, €600 million was being committed for the progression of the A5 project.

The Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland estimates the total scheme cost for the A5 project is £1.6billion with completion expected by 2032/2033 and the largest funding demands over the 2025 to 2028 period. 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 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, and further engagement is scheduled over the coming months. In October 2023 there was a bilateral meeting in Dublin between Departmental officials and Northern colleagues in relation to the A5.