Sinn Féin MLA Declan McAleer and Padraig MacLochlainn TD have welcomed the continued commitment from Taoiseach Enda Kenny to the A5 project.

Mr McAleer said: "A cross party, cross border delegation travelled to Dublin to discuss the future construction of the A5 with Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Transport Minister Leo Varadkar.

"We were seeking re-affirmation from the Taoiseach of the funding of £25m in 2015 and £25m in 2016 for the A5 Western Transport Corridor would still be available and that the originally pledged funding of £400m from the Irish Government for the A5 dual carriageway project will be honoured, and included in the next budgetary periods.

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"We also asked the Taoiseach to work with DRD Minister Danny Kennedy and his Department to re-schedule the timetable for delivery of the A5 Project and, through the North South Ministerial Council, to direct the two Departments to develop a revised Funding and Implementation Plan for the project.

"The Taoiseach pledged his continued support for the project stating that it remains a priority for his Government and this has to be welcomed."

Mr MacLochlainn added: "The area that the A5 will cover has over 500,000 people who do not have a first class link either by road, air or rail to Dublin, the capital city of Ireland and we also have subsidiary road projects such as the N14 and N15 connections into Donegal and Letterkenny that can't proceed without the A5.

"The A5 will open the entire North West region up for economic development and must be top of any road development projects on the island.

"I am delighted that the Taoiseach and Minister of Transport Leo Varadkar have now reiterated the same commitment to the A5 as given recently by Martin McGuinness and Peter Robinson from the Assembly Executive."

(CD/JP)