Every day that the A5 project is delayed carries a risk of more heartbreak, says two Donegal deputies after the road improvement project was further derailed by the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
The decision has been met with anger and frustration across both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin representatives of Donegal.
The road, which runs through counties Derry and Tyrone and links Donegal and the northwest to Dublin, is considered one of the most dangerous roads in Ireland.
More than 50 people have died on the A5 since 2006.
Yesterday Mr Justice McAlinden ruled against the long-delayed A5 road project from Derry to Aughnacloy in Co Tyrone going ahead in its current form after finding it breached climate change targets.
Sinn Féin Donegal TDs Pearse Doherty and Pádraig Mac Lochlainn say that communities have waited and suffered long enough
“Every day that this project is delayed risks more avoidable heartbreak, and Sinn Féin will continue to work with our colleagues in Stormont to ensure a new A5 is delivered,” they said.
Last year, the Irish government committed €600 million to the A5 Derry to Aughnacloy Northwest Transport Corridor.
Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, said the High Court ruling was extremely disappointing and a real blow for Donegal and the North West.
“Monday’s High Court decision is extremely disappointing. The decision of the Irish Government to commit such a significant amount of funding 16 months ago was done to enable the Northern Ireland Executive to work with the UK government to move the project forward,” the Minister of State for Sport and Postal Policy commented.
“The A5 is a major road that links Donegal to Monaghan through Derry and Tyrone. Good transport access for the Northwest is vital for the ongoing development of Donegal and the northwest region. The building of the A5 along with the three Donegal Ten T projects – the Bonagee Link in Letterkenny, the Lifford to Manorcunningham Dual Carriageway and the Ballybofey Stranorlar Bypass – are central to improving our road infrastructure,” Minister McConalogue added.
Minister McConalogue said that, despite this latest setback, work must now commence immediately to ensure that this legal impasse can be resolved.
“This latest setback is most frustrating, and all efforts must be redoubled to ensure that the construction of this essential infrastructure project gets the green light. Its development is absolutely essential for the future development of Donegal and the North West,” he added.
His party colleague Pat the Cope Gallagher TD said the decision to uphold the legal challenge was “deeply disappointing and, quite frankly, dangerous”.
Deputy Gallagher said: “We are speaking about one of the most dangerous roads on this island. Every year, more lives are lost while this critical infrastructure project is left in limbo. The environmental oversight cited in the judgment, while important, must be addressed without derailing the entire process. It is inconceivable that a draft Climate Action Plan’s omission could bring to a halt a project of such societal importance, especially one already backed by €600 million in Irish Government funding.”
Deputy Gallagher said he will be calling on the Taoiseach and the Minister for Transport, Daragh O’Brien to meet with key stakeholders to chart a clear, accelerated, and legally sound path forward for the A5 and N2 road projects.
“This cannot become another decade-long delay,” Deputy Gallagher said. “We need accountability, urgency, and delivery.”
He added: “The people of Donegal, Tyrone, Monaghan, and Derry deserve safe, modern roads. We owe it to those who have died, and those at risk, to act without delay.”
