Sinn Féin Finance Spokesperson Deputy Pearse Doherty has welcomed the recent confirmation received by his party from the Department of Infrastructure in the north that construction work on the long-awaited Strabane to Newbuildings section of the A5 road route is due to commence in January.
The Donegal TD is now calling on the Irish Government to reaffirm its commitment to the cross-border project and to now make available its share of the agreed funding package for the scheme which was previously deferred owing to the economic downturn.
Deputy Doherty said:
“I welcome the confirmation received by my party colleagues from the Permanent Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure in the north which provides a definitive timeline for completion of the outstanding statutory obligations in respect of the A5 upgrade.
“In his response, it’s stated that following the conclusion on this process, and notwithstanding the potential for any further legal challenges arising, then construction work on the Newbuildings to Strabane section of the route will likely get underway this January.
“This is of course a major step in the right direction for this highly anticipated project as the development of A5 is not only vital to improve road safety, but it is crucial to the economic and social future of the entire region, both north and south.
“Sinn Féin in the north ensured that the A5 was a key Programme for Government Priority, that £229 million was committed to the A5 as part of the Fresh Start Agreement, and of course included the re-instatement of €75m in contribution from the Irish government.
“I understand that my colleague Declan McAleer MLA has last week written to Transport Minister Shane Ross to request a meeting to discuss how his government is planning to finally honour the commitment it made as part of the St Andrew’s Agreement back in 2006 to jointly co-fund the construction of the A5 project along with the Executive in the north.”
“I intend to also raise this latest development with the Minister in the Dáil this week, and I will impress on him the need for him and his government colleagues to now fulfill its end of the agreement in respect of this major infrastructure project, the construction of which is in the economic and social interests of communities on both sides of the border.”
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