Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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148.To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a breakdown of the amount of his Department’s pre-committed capital expenditure under the National Development Plan that will be dedicated to the upgrade works for the N2 and A5 in each of the years 2024 to 2030, in tabular form. [25188/24]

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.

There are a number of projects on the N2 which are listed in the current NDP. I can confirm that €1.6 million was allocated for the N2 Clontibret to the Border Scheme in 2024. A further €700,000 was allocated for the development of the Slane Bypass. With regard to future years, exchequer capital funding is allocated on an annual basis through TII to local authorities and as such it is not possible to confirm the level of any future funding allocations. All national roads projects in the NDP are kept under review each year 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.

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 be 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 £1.6 billion 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 middle 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. In addition 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 on a range of North/South transport proposals, including the A5.