Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020
169. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to Ireland of the A5 upgrade, the Narrow Water Bridge, a high-speed rail connection upgrade on the Belfast-Dublin-Limerick Junction Cork line; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42964/20]
View answerIn Budget 2021, An Taoiseach announced that the Irish Government is providing the resources to deliver on its commitment to build a shared island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. In this context, An Taoiseach launched the Shared Island Fund with a planned €500 million to be made available over the next five years to 2025.
Funding will be allocated to Government Departments and Agencies to fund a variety of cross-border projects, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government which includes working with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives.
A5 Upgrade Scheme
Under the “Fresh Start Agreement” the Irish Government is committed to providing funding of £75 million (sterling) for the construction of Phase 1a of the proposed upgrade of the A5 road. The Government's commitment to provide funding of £75 million (sterling) is also now included in the "New Decade, New Approach" document.
As is the case for all such capital projects, the A5 upgrade scheme is subject to the planning assessment and approval process in Northern Ireland. Following the conclusion in 2018 of a legal challenge which resulted in the quashing of the previous approval of the A5 upgrade scheme, the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure initiated a review of the scheme, including the holding of a new Public Inquiry, with a view to facilitating a new decision on the scheme. This process has not yet reached a conclusion.
Narrow Water Bridge
Following on from the Fresh Start Agreement, the "New Decade, New Approach" document indicates that the Government is ready to jointly progress consideration of options for the development of the Narrow Water bridge project at the North South Ministerial Council.
Options for the development of the Narrow Water Bridge project are under examination at present taking into account other proposed projects in the area including the Newry Southern Relief Road. Consideration of options for a bridge has not yet reached a sufficiently advanced stage where there is a clearly defined and costed scheme.
High Speed Rail Connection
The Department is about to undertake a strategic review of the rail network including a study of rail speeds on the Belfast-Dublin-Cork line and the potential for high-speed rail. It is that study that will provide an indicative level of potential cost associated with the development of high-speed rail.
