To ask the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on the projected completion dates for the (i) Derry to Strabane; (ii) Strabane to Omagh; and (iii) Omagh to Aughnacloy sections of road as part of A5 Western Transport Corridor works.

Following a public inquiry held during February and March of 2020, my Department received an interim report from the Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) during the latter part of last year. My officials have given consideration to the issues raised and recommendations made in that report and have taken legal advice.

I have carefully considered all of the advice received and on 16 March I announced the publication of the PAC Interim Report. I have accepted the Commissioner’s key recommendation regarding the preparation of and consultation on further documents on the important topics of flood risk and the consideration of alternatives to the proposed scheme. I also published the Department’s formal response to all the recommendations made by the PAC in the form of an Interim Departmental Statement.

I also asked officials to prepare a further addendum to the Environmental Statement for consultation in early autumn 2021. I anticipate that this approach will lead to the re-opening of the Public Inquiry, as recommended by the Planning Appeals Commission, early next year. It will enable the Inquiry to consider further public representations made on the two key topics of flood risk and scheme alternatives and furnish the Department with its final report later in 2022 allowing a decision to be made on the next steps for this important, transformative scheme.

I would once again re-iterate my commitment to the A5WTC flagship project, which is of significant strategic importance to the region, helping to tackle regional imbalance, improving the economy, job prospects and prosperity, connecting communities and improving road safety.