The Taoiseach's announcement yesterday that the €27 million earmarked for the very important A5 western transport corridor, running all the way from Clontibret in County Monaghan to Derry city, has now been abandoned is another shocking blow to the Border counties. In November 2011, the Government announced that this contribution would be delayed due to austerity. In February 2012, the Government committed to phased development of that project. Now this project is one of the first to be made collateral damage of the Government's overspend on the children's hospital. With Brexit hurtling towards us, the Border counties cannot wait any longer for the A5 western transport corridor. The lack of investment is now definitely hampering the Border counties' potential.

No, I did not say it would be abandoned. I am very committed to the A5 project. I was involved in it when I was Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport many years ago and I am very keen to see it start as soon as possible, connecting not just Derry and Donegal but also the Border counties, including the Deputy's county. The reason it is deferred is that the authorities in Northern Ireland have been unable to start the project. We are not going to pay €27 million for a road that has not been started. Once they are ready to start the project we will honour that commitment.