Transport Minister Leo Varadkar has insisted the Government will fund the A5 road – just not yet.
The government wants to change the timetable on how it contributes to the funding of the road – which it must do under an international agreement with the North.
Meanwhile Ireland North West MEP Pat the Cope Gallagher has reacted to media reports suggesting that the Government is to renege on its promises made both before and since the election to part fund the Dublin-Donegal motorway project.
Pat the Cope Gallagher MEP said: “This road project was one of the outcomes of the St Andrew’s Agreement whereby the Irish Government committed EUR 480 million to the project which will have major benefits for the North West region. The previous Fianna Fáil led Government were at all times fully committed to the part funding of this project despite the current economic difficulties.
“As recently as September the Taoiseach Enda Kenny unreservedly committed his Government to the funding when he was well aware of the economic constraints. All other regions of the country have been served by high quality roads. It is absolutely essential that the road infrastructure in the North West is brought up to the standard which exists in other parts. Why should the North West suffer once again? It is obvious that this Government has no commitment to cross border projects, if the media reports prove to be accurate.
Pat the Cope today suggested that “certain members of the Government should familiarise themselves with the existing route before taking a decision that will be detrimental to the future economic development of the North West and the regeneration of the region which suffers from the highest unemployment rate in the country.”
Pat the Cope further concluded, “I met recently in Brussels with Danny Kennedy, the Regional Development Minister in the Northern Executive who was very positively disposed to the development. The Government should immediately dispel the uncertainty and reaffirm its previous commitments made before and after the election to proceed with this vital infrastructural project.”
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