Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
609. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the A5 Derry to Strabane road project, his views on the withdrawal of £50 million earmarked for the A5 but reallocated for work extending the M18 from Gort to Tuam and the M11 between Wicklow and Arklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11856/16]
View answerThe Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start reaffirmed the Government's commitment to provide funding of £50 million for the A5 project and committed an additional £25 million to ensure that Phase 1 of the project (Newbuildings to north of Strabane) can commence as soon as the necessary planning issues have been resolved by the Northern Ireland authorities. Under the Agreement it is envisaged that construction of Phase 1 of the A5 will start in 2017 with a view to completion in 2019. In keeping with the revised project timeline, the Government funding is to be provided in three tranches of £25 million in the years 2017, 2018 and 2019 respectively.
While implementation of the project is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities the Irish Government is liaising on project implementation under the aegis of the North South Ministerial Council. A public consultation exercise on the new Environmental Statement together with a new draft Direction Order, draft Vesting Orders and a Stopping-up of Private Accesses Order was concluded in early April 2016. A further consultation exercise is now underway on the Environmental Statement which is scheduled to conclude on 2 June 2016. On 14 April 2016 the Department announced a Public Inquiry on the proposed scheme and appointed the Planning Appeals Commission as Public Inquiry Inspector. The Inquiry is scheduled for autumn 2016.
As regards the Gort to Tuam and Arklow to Rathnew projects, these projects have been undertaken using the Public Private Partnership contract model whereby a private consortium finances the construction of the project and recoups the investment over the life of a long term concession agreement.
