Focus on Irish Government after funding boost for A5
NEGOTIATIONS will continue with the Irish Government over funding for the A5 dualling project, Stormont Roads Minister Danny Kennedy confirmed yesterday.
Last November, the Republic’s Transport Minister Leo Varadkar said they could no longer commit their £400m to the £850m needed for the original scheme, but said his government remained “politically committed to the A5”.
Mr Kennedy revealed that the £330 million of Stormont cash announced yesterday, could see work begin on the two sections of the road as early as September this year, subject to the public inquiry.
“There have been ongoing efforts with the Irish Government over the A5 and I will certainly be continuing to speak with my counterpart in the Republic over funding for the dualling scheme,” said Mr Kennedy.
“The A5 is one of our key transport corridors and this announcement is a very positive move forward for the west of the Province in terms of infrastructure and the local economy.”
TUV leader Jim Allister said the decision “confirms that in the Executive what Sinn Fein wants, Sinn Fein gets”. He claimed there was no business case for the A5. If the decision was not about political expediency, “projects such as the A26 [in north Antrim] dualling would be getting approval because it meets the traffic volume criteria”.
But Mr Kennedy said: “A business case will be brought forward once we have the inspector’s report into the A5, which could see some changes to the specifics of the project, including cost.”
The DUP’s Tom Buchanan, MLA for West Tyrone, said the A5 funding would receive a mixed reaction.
“Whilst the upgrade of the two sections of the A5 will represent a boost for the local economy I am still very mindful of the landowners and farmers who will be affected by this construction.
“Whilst I am mindful that the public inquiry into the A5 scheme is still to be completed, this announcement does now provide certainty for people living along the route.”
Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams called on the Irish Government to reverse its decision to withdraw funding for the A5. Mr Adams said: “If it [the Irish Government] is serious about creating new jobs and investing in the economy, particularly in disadvantaged areas like the north west, then it should immediately review and reverse its decision to cut funding to the A5 project.”
His party colleague Pat Doherty MP said the A5 announcement was “a pivotal turning point in re-dressing the infrastructure imbalance west of the Bann and in the north west region of Ireland”.
Work is now expected to go ahead in dualling the stretches between Londonderry and Strabane and Omagh and Ballygawley.
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
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