Funding for A5 road- No brainer Crowe

The Good Friday Agreement Implementation Committee today heard from representatives of Monaghan, Derry, Donegal, Dungannon and Omagh and Strabane Councils regarding the funding for the A5 Motorway connecting Monaghan to Donegal.

Speaking after the meeting Dublin South West Deputy Seán Crowe, said;

“Sinn Féin has supported this infrastructure project as an essential element in the economic renewal of the north west. Given the high levels of job losses across the Northwest, this road is essential in connecting the region with the rest of Ireland.

“At the Executive in the North, we have supported the continued development of the road and set aside over €400million to develop sections of the road. The decision of the Irish Government to cut its share of the funding will further delay the project and lead to a disjointed road network. Labour and Fine Gael could find the funds to bail out banks and developers but not to support this project.

“The people along the border were promised this road, the Executive has honoured its side of the agreement, it is now time for the Irish Government to review its decisions and reinstate the funding for this road.”

“The Government agreed this in St. Andrews. It remained a key project in government budgets until Fine Gael and Labour came to power. As far as I am concerned is project is a no brainer in that it ticks all the boxs in relation to spuring economic development, creating jobs, open access to public services and promoting road safety.

“Sinn Féin is clear that this project is required to tackle the jobs crisis, to join up public services and enhance trade. It is clear that as a signatory and guarantor of the agreements, the Irish Government needs to retain the moral authority, that an agreement made is an agreement honoured.

“The people of Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry and Donegal and the rest of Ireland, deserve and expect no less.”