N5 upgrade funding to be announced today

Neill O’Neill

FUNDING for the N5 road project from Westport to Turlough is expected to be announced today as part of a new Capital Plan in Dublin (Tuesday). A Cabinet meeting is due to take place and the announcement is expected around lunchtime, with the significant Westport to Turlough upgrade due to be included in the plans.
This should ensure that the project, which has already gone through preliminary phases such as design and CPO, is fully funded and future proofed, and forms part of the Government’s long-term capital spending plan.
Speaking two weeks ago, Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Brendan Howlin, said the Government is launching a long-term capital spending plan because not enough strategic planning was done in the past.
“Maybe we didn’t do enough strategic planning in the past,” he said.
“We need to have a vision of what our transport system, our health system, our education system will look like many years hence and provide the planning and the money for that.”
Minister Michael Ring said he was delighted with the inclusion of the N5 in the plan and said that both he and Taoiseach Enda Kenny had worked hard over many years keep this project alive.
“I am delighted with this news, I have been working on this since I came into politics and I know the Taosieach has too. Since I came in we have sorted out the water and sewerage infrastructure in Westport and many other developments and it is good news for the town of Westport and the county. Others have talked about this but we have delivered it, and I was personally glad to be able to negotiate the goodwill payments for the farmers along the route. It is a proud time to be an elected representative as this project is ready to go.”

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