The Irish government is set to restore its original funding pledge of £400m for the A5, the main route between Londonderry and Dublin. A high-level Irish government source confirmed that the full amount will be restored following a cabinet meeting. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar had indicated that his government was prepared to consider providing more funding a week ago. Speaking in the Dáil, Varadkar explained that the previously reduced commitment had been caused by the financial crisis in the country. However, the situation had since changed, he said, with the Northern Ireland Executive back in operation.
The Irish government had previously pledged to contribute £400m as part of the St Andrews Agreement. However, the offer was reduced during the financial crash. The aim of the dual carriageway project is to improve safety on one of the most dangerous roads on the island of Ireland. Despite having been announced over 16 years ago, work has yet to begin on the proposed upgrade. The total cost of the project is estimated to be £1.6bn.
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, the Sinn Féin TD for Donegal, had pressed Varadkar on the topic of funding in the Dáil. The Irish prime minister promised to provide more details about the revised financial commitment to the project. The upgrade would be the largest road ever constructed in Northern Ireland. Since 2006, more than 50 people have lost their lives on the current A5 route
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