Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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123. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the up-to-date position regarding the proposed upgrade of the A5 road in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53875/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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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 previously 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. It was announced on February 20th 2024 that as part of Government funding commitments for Shared Island projects, €600 million was being committed for the progression of the A5 project.

The planning and implementation of the A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland. As such, the matter of the overall cost of the project is for the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It estimates the total scheme cost for the A5 project is c. £1.6 billion, with completion expected by 2032/2033 and the largest funding demands over the 2025 to 2028 period. 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.

The A5 project was approved by the Northern Ireland Executive on October 2nd 2024. On the 30th of June 2025, the High Court overturned the decision by the Department of Infrastructure to proceed with the first phase of the A5 dual carriageway project. I understand that the Department for Infrastructure has lodged an appeal against this judgement, which is expected to be heard before year end.