Taoiseach’s pledge provides enhanced A5 confidence

WITH the Irish Government poised to announce a substantial funding contribution for the A5 Western Transport Corridor, campaigners across Tyrone are hopeful that work on the long-delayed project will commence by the end of 2024.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar recently told Dáil Éireann that he will be tabling a ‘revised financial commitment to the A5’ within the coming weeks.

His promise came after Donegal Sinn Féin TD Pádraig Mac Lochlainn questioned the Irish Government’s role in helping fund the £1.6billion upgrade, which would see the road from Aughnacloy to Derry transformed into a dual carriageway.

Niall McKenna, chairperson of Tyrone GAA’s ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign, claims the Taoiseach’s pledge has given further confidence to those who believe the A5 project to be essential for both public safety and economic prosperity in Tyrone and the wider north-west.

“The original commitment of the Dublin Government was £400million and that came out of the St Andrew’s Agreement in 2006,” he said. “Then we had the global financial crash and the figure fell to £75million.

“Since then, a concrete figure has never been established.

“In my opinion, that reluctance was based on how beset the project was with problems up here in the North. Essentially, no Dublin government wanted to dedicate part of their budget to something that they thought might never happen.”

However, Mr McKenna acknowledged that circumstances have changed markedly of late.

“The south’s economy has rebounded strongly, Stormont is back, and last summer’s public inquiry seems to have galvanised public support for the project.

“Last July, I sat in Dublin as part of an A5 campaign delegation and watched on as the Dáil Éireann voted unanimously in favour of funding half the project.

“I am very confident that in the coming weeks we will see the Irish Government either honour that commitment or at the very least make a significant contribution.

“In my view, ministerial approval is just around the corner. If that proves to be the case, we could well see construction start by the end of the year,” said Mr Kenna.

Also welcoming the Taoiseac’s announcement was Sinn Féin MP Órfhlaith Begley.

She said, “It is imperative that the Irish government and Executive remain fully committed to delivering and financing this critical and transformative infrastructure which will ultimately save lives.”

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan added, “I welcome this announcement from the Taoiseach and am incredibly hopeful that the long, long awaited announcement on the A5 will soon be made and would urge the Infrastructure Minister to waste no time in breaking ground.”