Debate contribution: North/South Ministerial Council: Transport

Debate contribution by Mr John O'Dowd on 2 July 2024.

MLA

Mr John O'Dowd

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

2 July 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statements

Heading

North/South Ministerial Council: Transport

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4528722

Read the official Assembly record

Text

In compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make a statement on the meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in the transport sectoral format, which was held on Thursday 27 June 2024. The meeting took place at the offices of the NSMC joint secretariat in Armagh and was chaired by me. I attended the meeting with Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Transport, along with Mike Nesbitt, Minister of Health, who attended as the accompanying Minister. The NSMC agreed that the A5 dualling and cross-border linked road projects, including the N2 Clontibret to Border road scheme and the Donegal Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) upgrades, were critical to the development of the region, improving road safety and stimulating economic growth.

Ministers welcomed the announcement in February 2024 of a €600 million contribution from the Government of Ireland towards the A5 project and their support in advancing the N2 from Clontibret to the border and the Donegal TEN-T upgrades. The Council noted that the A5, Donegal TEN-T and N2 road infrastructure projects continue to progress, with both Administrations working collaboratively, including on the mitigation of impacts on the River Foyle floodplain. Ministers noted the establishment of a cross-border working group that would reinforce that collaboration, specifically in the continued development of the N2 from Clontibret to the border and phase 3 of the A5 from Ballygawley to the border, including the proposal for a seamless cross-border link road of approximately 3 kilometres in length, to ensure successful outcomes through the planning process.

The Council welcomed the progress on the implementation of commitments outlined in the 'New Decade, New Approach' agreement of January 2020, particularly in relation to infrastructural investment. Ministers welcomed the progress being made on various cross-border greenways, including the Sligo to Enniskillen greenway, the north-west greenway network, the Ulster canal greenway and the Carlingford lough greenway. They welcomed the announcement by the Government of Ireland in February 2024 of a €1·5 million contribution to enable the completion of an outstanding element of the cross-border Carlingford greenway — a 1·6 kilometre boardwalk structure outside Newry — as well as the funding provided by the Department for Infrastructure. Ministers noted that the Government of Ireland have commissioned an expert-led review on potential cross-border greenway opportunities, in line with the commitment to create an island-wide greenway network. The Council welcomed the allocation of funding by the Government of Ireland of €12·5 million from the Shared Island Fund with match funding from the Department of Transport (DOT) to meet the total cost of introducing an hourly rail service between Belfast and Dublin over an initial three-year period. The NSMC noted the presentation provided on cross-border intercity rail services between Belfast and Dublin and the all-island strategic rail review, and it welcomed the progress on the review and the intention to present the final review to the NI Executive and the Government of Ireland in July 2024. The Council noted the ongoing review of the potential for government support for renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and from Dublin to the City of Derry Airport. The NSMC welcomed the continued cooperation between DFI and DOT on matters relating to EU funding and welcomed the decision in April 2024 to award €165 million from the PEACE PLUS programme to the Enterprise fleet replacement project. The Council welcomed progress on the EU-funded Connecting Europe Facility and INTERREG projects, including the A1 Belfast to Dublin road safety improvements; the removal of a major bottleneck on the North Sea/Mediterranean corridor at Newry/Warrenpoint; the planning and design phase of the TEN-T priority route improvement in the north-west; the north-west multimodal transport hub; cross-border greenways; and electric vehicle chargers. The Council noted the updates provided by the Department of Transport in respect of actions under the sustainable mobility policy and related actions under the climate action plans and by the Department for Infrastructure in respect of transport decarbonisation policy development, including increasing sustainable active travel. Ministers noted that officials from both Administrations will progress agreed cross-border sustainable travel and transport projects, continue to liaise on policy development and seek opportunities for further collaboration. Ministers agreed that a further update will be provided at a future NSMC meeting. The Council noted current ambitions, mechanisms and governance arrangements in relation to biodiversity loss and climate action, mitigation and adaptation in the transport sector across the island of Ireland. The NSMC welcomed the operational practices across the transport sector in support of addressing the loss of biodiversity and noted the presentation provided on addressing loss of biodiversity in the sector. Ministers noted that officials will be engaging in a number of cross-border initiatives, including an environment-themed workshop, to showcase and share information on biodiversity best practice across the transport sector. The Council agreed to hold its next transport meeting in autumn 2024. My officials and I look forward to working with the Minister for Transport and his officials on all areas of cooperation in the transport sector.

There will be a small contribution from my Department in this financial year. I have mapped out in detail to my Executive colleagues how we propose to move forward with the A5 in the coming years. That also sets out the budgetary plans for my Department and how we propose to spend the welcome contribution from the Dublin Government.

The next step with the review is that it will be presented to the Executive and the Irish Government later this month, I hope, for their noting. The review is comprehensive. I have asked for a review of the review in relation to Fermanagh. It would be inappropriate for me to make further comment on it before presenting it to my Executive colleagues, but I assure the Member that, regardless of the outcomes, the review is open to ongoing analysis and deliberations. The ambition of the review is to ensure that we connect all parts of this island, rural and urban, with proper rail networks.

I thank the Member for her question. I can confirm that, following deliberations with my officials on the capital budget, I will proceed with the safety improvements to the A1. They will be done in one package rather than over a series of phases. Doing the work as one scheme is much more economically viable, but it will also ensure that safety on that busy road, where 40 lives have been lost over the past 20 years, is dramatically improved. There have been many campaigners for safety on the A1, but I particularly want to note Monica Heaney, who has campaigned for safety on the A1 following the tragic death of her son Karl. I commend her and others who have campaigned for that work. I assure them that the work will now proceed as I have lifted the embargo on it.

That matter has been brought to my attention. My Department has engaged with Irish Rail on it. I hope that Irish Rail will take on board our concerns about the potential for disruption and delays to the cross-border service. I hope for a positive outcome on that.

I thank the Member for his question. Road safety is a long-standing item on the transport sectoral work programme. There are common causes across the island of Ireland in relation to road safety and crashes. We can learn from each other's jurisdiction.

The sharing of experiences provides an important learning opportunity and enables both jurisdictions on the island to learn from each other, so it will be a standing item on our agenda.

Again, it is about learning from each other's experiences on the matter. The Member will appreciate that, regardless of the different opinions on the border on the island of Ireland, biodiversity does not stop at either side of the border. We have common biodiversity across the island. It is about how we best manage that and learn from each other's experiences. A very interesting presentation was given by both Departments on how we manage road verges and the various pockets of land that each Department manages and how we best use them to promote biodiversity and protect the biodiversity on the island.

Apologies to the Member, but I have no details before me on that matter. I am more than happy to respond to him in writing.

I thank the Member for her question. She raises a valid point. As I have said before in the House when we talk about the rail link between Belfast and Dublin and improving the rail link between Derry, Cork and Dublin, it is often seen as bringing trade and investment in the one direction. However, I see it in a totally different light. The hourly service has huge economic potential for the towns, villages and communities from Newry up to Belfast. When that service is put in place, we should encourage businesses to look at investment along the entirety of that rail line, because you will be able to bring commuters and businesses to you hourly. It has fantastic opportunities for all of our local businesses and communities.

That is a good segue into the statement, Harry. I will make further announcements on my capital programme in the next number of weeks. I assure the Member that I will update him on the Ballynahinch bypass.

I am involved in many strange things as Minister, but, unfortunately, that is not one of them. I have heard the Member raise that issue on numerous occasions with the relevant Ministers, and I am sure that they are taking his concerns under consideration.

I suspect that you are sceptical about a lot of things, Mr McCrossan. I cannot help you with that, but I am sure that somebody can, if you look around. The timing of my announcement has not been driven by the election. Rather, it has been driven by the requirement for me to follow a detailed and analytical examination of the PAC's report and by legal, scientific and other advice. The announcement would have been made at this time, election or no election. The communications with my Executive colleagues came about as a result of my completing that work, in line with advice from my officials. I have now communicated with my Executive colleagues, and the PAC report is on its way to them. I will present a final draft of the report and its recommendations to my Executive colleagues in August. The PAC report will be published at that time. I hope that my recommendation to the Executive will be adopted in order for the A5 project to move ahead.

1,764 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:55 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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