Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, TD and Minister of State for Transport, Pat the Cope Gallagher,T.D., today (22 March 2007), have welcomed the announcement that funding, to include Irish Government investment of €580 million, is to be set aside for linking the North and South, once agreement between the parties has been reached and devolution has been completed. This will allow for considerable progress to be made under the North South initiative in relation to the national roads programme, in particular on the A5 Aughnacloy/Omagh/Strabane/Derry route.

Minister Cullen said: "The Plan commits specifically to the completion by 2013 of a high quality road network on the inter urban routes linking the major population centres of Dublin, Belfast and the North West, especially the Letterkenny/Derry Gateway A5 Aughnacloy/Omagh/Strabane/Derry and the announcement today is a major development in the achievement of this goal. We have already seen improvements along the A5, in particular the works that have been completed at Omagh, Newtownstewart and Strabane and the continued improvements are making a real difference to accessibility to Donegal and the Northwest. This will be further improved when the NRA completes the Castleblaney bypass later this year and the Government is committed to improving the roads from the M1 to the border at Aughnacloy and from the border at Lifford to Letterkenny."

Under the Northwest Gateway initiative launched by the two Governments in 2005 there was a commitment to examining the potential for joint investment in key infrastructure projects.   In line with that commitment, the National Roads Authority and the Roads Service of Northern Ireland undertook research on potential road infrastructure projects, which would have cross border benefits. 

Minister Gallagher welcomed the announcement today saying: "Progress on the A5 will open up Donegal on a Commercial and Socio Economic Level, by providing the much needed improved infrastructural access to the County.  The recently published National Development Plan 2007 - 2013, which deals extensively with all island cooperation, includes proposals for significant Irish Government investment in North/South projects and initiatives for mutual benefit.  The Irish Government is keen to agree and implement these projects with the British Government and a restored Northern Ireland Executive".

Minister Gallagher continued: "The Irish Government is investing through the Department of Transport over €131 million in cross border road projects this year. These include the A1 / N1 Newry to Dundalk Link Road, the N2/N52 Ardee Bypass, the N2 Ashbourne - M50 project, the N2 Slane Bypass, the N2 Monaghan Bypass, the N2 Carrickmacross Bypass, the N2 Castleblayney Bypass, the N3 Virginia Bypass, the N3 Belturbet Bypass, the M3 Clonee-South of Virginia scheme, the N14 Lifford/Strabane project the N15 Ballybofey / Stranorlar Bypass and the N15 Bundoran / Ballyshannon Bypass."

Issued by, Veronica Scanlan 087 6430622