4 Feb 2015, 16:02
Progress on A5 Road Upgrade and Narrow Water Bridge Project to be considered
4 February 2015
The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe TD will appear before Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement to consider progress in the delivery of key cross border road infrastructure.
Minister Donohoe is expected to brief the Committee on the stalled cross border road project, which has currently been suspended. While delivery of the A5 upgrade is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland authorities, the Government have committed £50 million in funding to the project. He is also expected to outline progress in improving the N2, N14 and N15, which link to the A5.
Chairman of the Committee Frank Feighan TD says: “Reflecting the aims of the Good Friday Agreement, our Committee is working to explore all practical ways towards cooperation and reconciliation. The important discussions we host on a shared future for the island are sometimes aspirational in nature but our meeting tomorrow centres on a tangible project, the delivery of which will unleash significant benefits for the citizens of the Northwest. Development of the region has long been stifled by a lack of adequate transport links and we look forward to engaging with Minister Donohoe on how the longstanding plans to upgrade the A5 – and related improvements to the N2, N14 and N15 - can be realised.
The meeting is also expected to focus on delivery of the Narrow Water bridge project. Deputy Feighan continues: “There is longstanding, unanimous support among Committee Members for the Narrow Water bridge project. A Committee delegation visited the site of the new bridge in recent months, enjoying fruitful meetings with local authority members, officials and business leaders on both sides of the border. Through these meetings on the issue, we are acutely aware that fully that delivery of this project is fundamentally about meeting the needs of people. With 3.1 million people living within one hour of the North Louth/South Down region, the tourism potential of such a connection between the Mournes and the Cooleys is considerable. We look forward to engaging with Minister Donohoe on progress of delivery of this important piece of infrastructure at tomorrow’s meeting.\"
The meeting takes place at 10:15 am tomorrow Thursday 5 February in Committee Room 4, LH 2000. The meeting can be viewed online here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Ends
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Committee Membership
Deputies:
Seán Conlan, Fine Gael
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Regina Doherty, Fine Gael
Frank Feighan, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Martin Ferris, Sinn Féin
Peter Fitzpatrick, Fine Gael
Michael P. Kitt, Fianna Fáil
Dinny McGinley, Fine Gael
Joe O’Reilly, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Thomas Pringle, Independent
Ruairí Quinn, Labour
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Joanna Tuffy, Labour
Jack Wall, Labour