I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 to 246, inclusive, together.
Arising from the St Andrew's Agreement, the Irish Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry thus improving access to Letterkenny and North Donegal. The Government's commitment to a contribution of £400 million for investment in roads infrastructure in Northern Ireland was included in a joint infrastructure investment package announced in March 2007 by the British and Irish Governments in the lead up to the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive.
Drawdown of funding is based on the achievement of agreed project milestones as reported by the Cross-Border Roads Steering Group leading to approval by the North South Ministerial Council. The A5 project milestone and payment schedule was formally approved by the NSMC Plenary in January 2011. To date funding of £19 million (sterling) has been paid by the Irish Government towards the planning of the project with a further £3 million (sterling) due to be paid in 2012 in relation to the completion of the Public Inquiry on the project.
It had been envisaged, subject to the outcome of the planning process, that the balance of the Irish Government's contribution would have been paid over the period 2013 to 2016 according as specified milestones were achieved during the construction phase of the project. However, it is important to stress that no provision was made by the outgoing Fianna Fáil led Government within either the Infrastructure Investment Priorities Plan 2010-2016 or the Four Year Plan for this project beyond the payments already made and the payments due in 2012.
Following an extensive Capital Investment Review conducted in 2011 by this Government and having regard to the current economic position which the Deputy will appreciate was inherited from the previous Fianna Fáil led Government, it has proved necessary to defer the funding commitment to the A5.
In early November, in advance of the announcement of the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012-2016, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, and I met with our Northern Ireland Ministerial counterparts, Sammy Wilson MP MLA and Danny Kennedy MLA to discuss the position in relation to the A5 project. This matter will be discussed further at the North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting which is being held tomorrow.