Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 October 2011
191 Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to meet 50% of the cost of the A5 dual carriageway from Derry to the border at Aughnacloy, estimated at £400 million, as per the St. Andrews Agreement; if not, if he will give consideration to provide £37.5 million to meet 50% of the cost of the relay of the rail line from Derry to Coleraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27972/11]
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.
