Debate contribution: A5 Western Transport Corridor: Impact on Local Communities

Debate contribution by Ms Liz Kimmins on 13 May 2025.

MLA

Ms Liz Kimmins

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

13 May 2025

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Adjournment

Heading

A5 Western Transport Corridor: Impact on Local Communities

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4948327

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I thank Tom Buchanan for bringing the Adjournment debate to the House, and I thank all Members for their contributions to what is a critical issue. As others have said, the A5 has been talked about for far too long. I say that because, as has been made clear in this and numerous other debates in the House, too many people have lost their life, too many families have been devastated and too many lives been forever changed by serious injury. That is why I once again reiterate in the strongest possible terms my commitment to the delivery of that long-awaited project. We must see the A5 built, and I am committed to ensuring that that is done at the earliest possible stage. It will improve road safety and save lives. That is the scheme's primary objective, but it will also be transformative. The new dual carriageway will bring many other significant benefits to local communities and beyond. It will address the regional imbalance of road infrastructure investment, which is essential for fostering inclusivity, prosperity and sustainability. It will improve connectivity east-west and north-south. It will enhance accessibility by reducing journey times and improving access to key health, social, welfare and education facilities. That will be particularly beneficial for accident and emergency services, ensuring quicker response times and better outcomes for patients. Economically, the scheme will stimulate business competitiveness and improve access to ports, airports and regional gateways. By decreasing transportation costs and improving access to areas of economic activity, the scheme will create business investment opportunities, job creation and new housing throughout the region. On sustainable transport, the scheme will improve road networks for public transport, increase journey time reliability and create active travel opportunities along the existing A5 and the wider network. It will improve accessibility and attract tourism to the area. Improved connectivity will promote job creation and an increase in economic activity in the area during construction. It will reduce the traffic that goes through the towns and villages along the existing A5. The scheme makes a strong commitment to environmental conservation and the promotion of biodiversity. In the authorised section, approximately 72 hectares of woodland will be planted along with 30 hectares of smaller plants and scrub habitat. Additionally, 15% to 20% of the proposed road verge will be planted with high-biodiversity wildflower planting to attract bees and insects. That initiative will create a vibrant and diverse ecosystem, supporting pollinators and contributing to the overall health of the environment. In addition, there will be an overall improvement in the local air quality. Of course, that is not to disregard the negative impacts of the project on the many affected landowners. I respect the views of Members and the contributions that they have made on that point this evening.

I fully understand the impact that losing land has on all landowners affected by vesting. I reassure every one that I am committed to ensuring that they are treated fairly, equally and with respect in mitigating that loss. I do not accept that that has not happened to date, because there has been significant engagement with officials. I think that there have been over 100 face-to-face meetings to date.

On scheme completion, no affected landowner should be any worse off than they were before construction commenced, with all impacts mitigated or compensated for. I encourage all landowners, through their agents, to engage with my officials and those of Land and Property Services (LPS) and initiate dialogue on determining and paying for the loss of land. My Department has the budget available to pay such claims — that was asked during the debate — but we cannot do that without meaningful engagement. To speak to some of the questions that were raised in relation to that, whilst I cannot speak to individual cases, I know that only a small number of claims have been made to date, so I encourage all those outstanding to get their claims in. The value of the land is through negotiation between LPS and agents. There is no set price per acre. That is set with regard to a number of factors, such as topography and the quality of the land. That will be part of those discussions, so that engagement is key in ensuring that landowners get the proper value for their land, because it is based on the current market value. A question was asked about what would happen to the land, should the legal challenge be successful. Ownership would revert to landowners, and the Department would then be liable for any reinstatement costs. Hopefully, that makes that clear. The legal challenge from the Alternative A5 Alliance has generated many uncertainties for all affected landowners and wider stakeholders, and I share their frustration. As others said here, we have seen legal challenges that have delayed the project — 2007 was the date that has been quoted this evening. That gives a clear indication of how long the journey has been, and I hope that we can finally bring it to a positive conclusion. It has also introduced many logistical challenges for my Department and the construction planning process. It has cost the public purse huge amounts of money. Most important, as we have all said, it has added further delays to the full construction of the much-needed new road. I hope that we have a successful outcome from the most recent legal challenge and that we can get the construction under way so that we can provide a safer road that will be for the greater good of all road users and communities. Deborah Erskine raised a point about preparatory works. The lands on which the preparatory works have commenced have been vested already by the Department, so we are able to go ahead. It is not construction, but we are able to clear the land and do those works.

That is in the hands of the court, as the Member will appreciate, but I hope that we will see that sooner rather than later. It is not something that I have the gift to share with Members this evening, but, given the proximity of the issue and how important it is to everyone concerned, I hope that we will see that sooner rather than later and that we can get under way. Any further delay could impact on costs, if we are moving to construction, and on the contractors who are ready to go on site. Nicola Brogan and Declan McAleer made profound points about the impact, as did Daniel McCrossan. Most important, the picture that Declan portrayed is one that we all remember from the schoolkids who were here just last year. Sadly, some in the community have since lost their life. In my mind, that is the key thing for us all. This is about young people, their future and protecting lives. My colleague Colm Gildernew spoke of the impact on the area surrounding the A5, and I am happy to go to Aughnacloy to see that. That is an important aspect of the broader piece, and it reflects the size of the infrastructure project that we are talking about and how transformative it will be. I thank Tom Buchanan —

Very quickly because I have little time left.

Apologies. I meant to address that question in my remarks. I note that John O'Dowd had met the Agriculture Minister. I am happy to follow that up. I have not had any further updates, but I am happy to do that and see how we can work together. Again, it is about mitigation and ensuring that no one is worse off, and we can address all the issues that have been raised across the House this evening. In closing, I thank Tom Buchanan for securing the Adjournment debate. It is important to have the discussion, and I hope that it has been an opportunity to make the facts clear and give assurances to the landowners who have outstanding concerns. I reiterate my commitment to the construction of the A5 dual carriageway. It is an Executive flagship project that had the full support of the Executive last October, when Minister O'Dowd made his decision to proceed with the stretch from just south of Strabane to Ballygawley. The project will bring significant road safety, economic, social, accessibility and sustainable transport benefits to the region. It is a vital investment in the future prosperity, health and well-being of the community and future generations. I thank Members for the opportunity to speak on the topic.

1,422 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 12:37 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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