Northern Ireland

Pressure growing on Irish government to commit substantial funds to A5

A police cordon on the A5 outside Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, at the scene where three members of the same family in a collision. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA
A police cordon on the A5 outside Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, at the scene where three members of the same family in a collision. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA A police cordon on the A5 outside Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, at the scene where three members of the same family in a collision. Picture by Liam McBurney/PA
By John Breslin

Pressure is growing on the Irish government to fully commit substantial funds to the upgrading of the A5 main route from Dublin to the north west, one of the most dangerous roads in the country.

Campaigners met on Tuesday night in Omagh ahead of the resumption next Monday of the public inquiry into the development of the route from the border at Augnacloy to Derry.

Enough is Enough Lives Lost On The A5 Campaign
Enough is Enough Lives Lost On The A5 Campaign Enough is Enough Lives Lost On The A5 Campaign

But the Irish government, flush with an estimated budget surplus of €65bn over the next four years, is coming under pressure from northern politicians to make a definitive statement on funding the A5 Western Corridor.

Dublin's Department of Transport on Tuesday said "the Irish Government remains committed to supporting this crucial infrastructure project".

Politicians in the north are lobbying for a substantial uplift from Dublin as the cost of the project, first approved by the Stormont Executive in 2007, has doubled to £1.6bn. The Irish government initially pledged £400m but this has dropped to £75m. 

However, the DoT said: "The present funding commitment predates the current suspension of the political institutions."

The upgrading of the 54 miles, much of it to a dual carriageway, faced several legal challenges while the public inquiry has dragged on over a number of years.

But every death on the road – 47 since it was first approved, the latest three members of the same family – adds more urgency to the calls for work to begin.

West Tyrone MP Órfhlaith Begley said she has received a commitment from Irish Government officials that Dublin “would not be found wanting” in terms of uplifting the contribution towards the A5.

West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley
West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley West Tyrone Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley

“The A5 is of all island strategic important and it will unlock the economic potential of the North West region,” the Sinn Fein MP said. "If the Irish government are in keeping with their original commitment they should co-fund the A5." 

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said he has written to both the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin "asking them to reiterate the Irish Government’s financial support for the much-needed work on the A5". 

“This public inquiry needs to be the last hurdle to this vital work, we have seen far too many lives lost on the A5, with families left shattered and communities broken, there can be no further delay and I again call on the objectors in the Alternative A5 Alliance to stand aside," Mr McCrossan said.

SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan

There is capital funding available to begin work on the A5 once the final Planning Appeals Commission report is completed later this year, the Department for Infrastructure said.  

"Subject to the successful completion of all statutory procedures and environmental assessments and the availability of funding, construction work could commence during 2024," the department said.