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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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A PSNI vehicle at the scene of a crash on the A5 and (inset) Deputy Pearse Doherty.
Donegal Deputy Pearse Doherty has called on the government to honour its commitment to the upgrade of the notorious A5 road.
The works on the A5, which connects Derry city to Aughnacloy, serves as a main route between Donegal and Dublin, have been halted by a series of legal issues.
Since 2007, when the Northern Ireland Executive first approved the development of a dual carriageway for the A5 Western Transport Corridor, 47 people have lost their lives on the A5. Earlier this year, three members of the one family from Strabane - Dan McKane, Christine McKane and Julia McSorley - were killed in a crash as they returned from a funeral in England.
Donegal-based Sinn Féin TD Doherty will move a motion in the Dáil on Tuesday.
“It is time to build the A5 road with no more delays,” the Sinn Féin spokesperson on finance said.
“Far too many families have lost loved ones on this dangerous road.”
When the upgrade works for the 54-mile route were initially approved, the Irish government pledged half of the estimated £1.6bn cost.
Deputy Doherty said: “The A5 upgrade was first announced in 2007 in order to transform a dangerous single-lane road into a much safer dual carriageway but 16 years on we are still waiting.
“We cannot wait any longer. We must act to save lives and protect families from further heartbreak.”
Deputy Doherty said the works on a road that is an important link between north and south will also enhance the social and economic wellbeing of the North West region.
On Tuesday, Sinn Féin will bring a motion to the Dáil calling on the government to honour its commitment to fund 50 per cent of the cost, as committed to as part of the St Andrews agreement.
Deputy Doherty said: ““The government must also take all necessary steps to ensure that the Ten-T Road upgrade projects for Donegal, connecting to the A5 and related N2 upgrades receive approval and are delivered as speedily as possible.
“There can be no more delays, and no more lives lost. It is time to build the A5 road.”
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