James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this important matter on the status of Irish Government funding for the N2 and A5 Dublin to Derry route and also the important issue of TEN-T. As he will be aware, the Government’s commitment to the A5 upgrade was discussed at Cabinet yesterday and an allocation of €600 million was confirmed for this project. This financial commitment towards the costs of the A5 road upgrade project will sit in parallel with the progression of planning and design work on the related N2 Clontibret and Donegal TEN-T schemes. The scale of this financial commitment is indicative of the significance of the A5, and of the related Donegal TEN-T and N2 Clontibret upgrades, for the north-west region and cross-Border connectivity on the island.

The Government welcomes the restoration of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and we are optimistic that yesterday’s announcements will send a positive signal of the Government’s ongoing commitment to working together. In particular, we look forward to the early resumption of meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. The North-South Ministerial Council is the formal institution of the Good Friday Agreement with the mandate to advance practical co-operation on a North-South basis. The Government will work closely with the new executive, including on the many areas where North-South co-operation makes a positive difference to communities on both sides of the Border, such as the matter in question.

The funding announced yesterday illustrates the Government’s long-standing commitment to the upgrade of the A5 and its desire to see swift progress on its construction. This upgrade is long-overdue and is of paramount importance for the improvement of safety and mobility on the island of Ireland. We strongly believe that the allocation of €600 million of Irish Government funds towards the upgrade of the A5 will provide a critical impetus to this important project - a project which when completed will provide a tangible positive impact for people across the island.

Not only will this infrastructure project improve lives and opportunities in the north west, it is also a demonstration of the Government’s belief in the benefits of collaborative investment in large-scale all-island infrastructure. This is the driving rationale behind the shared island initiative, building a more confident, inclusive and prosperous island that delivers for everyone, North and South.

The commitment to the A5 and better connecting Dublin, Derry and the north west exemplifies the tangible benefits of cross-border investment co-operation and is indicative of the myriad of possibilities available through partnership with both the new executive and the British Government. We hope that the Government contribution will facilitate the project in proceeding as quickly as possible, in conjunction with confirmation of funding from other sources. The Government is optimistic that the upgrade of the A5 and N2 is but one example of where we can enable the creation of a more connected, safe and prosperous island.