Minister reaffirms Irish Government's A5 road project funding commitment

THE Irish Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien TD., has reaffirmed his government's committment to providing funding of €600m towards the A5 dual-carriageway.

First announced in 2007, the 58-mile (94km) project, which is set to run from Newbuildings to Aughnacloy, was given the green light by Stormont ministers in October last year, but its delivery has been beset by delays, including issues over funding and previous legal challenges.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) recently served a Notice of Appeal against the most recent High Court judgement made in June, when Justice McAlinden ruled the road should not proceed as the department's plans did not comply with climate change targets.

The judicial review proceedings were brought forward by the Alternative A5 Alliance (AA5A), a group of residents, landowners and farmers, who are opposed to the new road contending it would breach legislative targets to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Infrastructure Minister, Liz Kimmins, says she is determined to see the £1.7billion road progress.

"We owe it to those people and their families to use every opportunity available to us to improve road safety in this area," she said after confirming her department has submitted an appeal.

“The A5 Western Transport Corridor is a vital infrastructure project; my team and I have been working around the clock and will continue to do so. We are determined to build the A5.”

Mr O'Brien shares that determination, and says the monetary committment from the Irish Government is still in place as part of its Programme for Government.

He was responding to a letter from West Tyrone SDLP MLA., Daniel McCrossan, who had written to Taoiseach Michael Martin on the issue.

"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," Mr O'Brien wrote.

"On February 20, 2024, the Government announced that as part of Government funding commitments for Shared Island projects, €600 million was being committed for the progression of the A5 project.

"Notwithstanding, I would like to take this opportunity to assure you of the Government’s continued support for this important project and the commitment of €600 million to see it progress.

"This support is also reflected in the commitment to this project contained in both the National Planning Framework and, more recently, the Programme for Government.

"The Programme for Government specifically committed to improving connectivity with the Northwest by working with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver the A5 road upgrade.

"I look forward to seeing the continued progress of this project, and the resultant more connected and prosperous island for all."