Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2011
189 Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on a rail-based alternative (details supplied) to the A5 motorway that the State is committed to contributing funding towards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27964/11]
View answerAs outlined in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 536 of 20th September 2011, in the context of the March 2007 agreement between the Irish and British Governments on a funding package to support the restored Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government made a commitment to provide funding for a roads investment package for Northern Ireland to contribute to the upgrading of the A5 road from Aughnacloy to Derry/Londonderry to dual-carriageway status.
As the Taoiseach recently indicated, the Government remains committed to the upgrade of the A5 road in the context of the North West Gateway Initiative designed to develop the economic potential of the North West. There are no plans to fund a rail-based alternative.
