Government must meet funding commitments on A5 road - Tully

FATALITIES: There were 10 road deaths between October 2021 to October 2022 on the A5

A Sinn Féin TD has said the government must tonight commit to honouring its pledge to fund 50% of the proposed upgrade to the A5 road.

Speaking ahead of tonight’s Sinn Féin Dáil motion on the issue, Deputy Pauline Tully said that the A5 upgrade is critical to prevent further lives from being lost, and to enhance the social and economic wellbeing of border counties and the North West region.

The A5 is a 94km road linking Derry with Aughnacloy on the Tyrone-Monaghan border, via Omagh and Strabane.

It also provides a major link between County Donegal and Dublin, via the N2 dual carriageway south of the border in County Monaghan.

The A5 "Enough is Enough" campaign group has briefed Oireachtas members at Leinster House this afternoon ahead of the motion, and will be in the Dáil public gallery this evening when the motion is debated.

Deputy Tully said: “Sinn Féin will this evening move a motion in the Dáil calling on the government to honour its commitment to fund 50% of the cost of the A5 upgrade, as committed to as past of the St Andrew's agreement so that it is commenced and completed as quickly as possible.

“The A5 "Enough is Enough" campaign group will brief Oireachtas members at Leinster House this afternoon ahead of the motion, and will be in the Dáil public gallery this evening when the motion is debated. They want to hear a real commitment from government to build the A5 road.

“There can be no more delays. Far too many families have lost loved ones on this dangerous road - more than 50 people have died since 2006, with ten deaths between October 2021 and October 2022 alone."

The A5 upgrade was first announced in 2007 to change the road from a single-lane to a dual carriageway.

“We cannot wait any longer," she said of the 16 year wait. "We must act to save lives and protect families from further heartbreak.

“The A5 route is important infrastructure linking north and south - a major route for those living and working in the border counties and right across the North West.

“This would save lives and create jobs as well as enhancing the social and economic wellbeing of border counties and the North West region.

“There can be no more delays, and no more lives lost. It is time to build the A5 road.”