O’Dowd says ‘highly complex’ review of 30 recommendations from A5 inquiry report near completion

Transcript

00:00 The A5 Western Transport Corridor is a critically important infrastructure and flagship project

00:05 for the Executive. The Planning Appeals Committee issued its final advisory report from the

00:10 latest public inquiry process 2020 and 2023 to the Department on 31 October 2023. This

00:18 report included 30 advisory recommendations, many of which are detailed and require legal

00:23 and professional review, advice and input. This complex process is now close to completion.

00:30 I will be in a position to make an announcement in respect of the scheme when I have reviewed

00:34 all the relevant information in relation to this project. When I make my announcement,

00:39 I will do so in accordance with all relevant statutory procedures and on the basis of all

00:43 evidence, representation and advice which I have received from officials, statutory

00:48 agencies North and South, members of the public and all other bodies who have participated

00:52 in the process to date. My announcement will be accompanied by a statement of the reasons

00:57 for the decision. This will take the form of a Department statement, which will include

01:01 a detailed response to the PAC advisory report and publication of the PAC report itself at

01:08 the same time.

01:09 I call Donnie MacCrossan for a supplementary.

01:12 Thank you, Madam Speaker. Minister, 56 people have died on the A5 since 2006, and since

01:18 the Assembly came back in February, a further four people have died. The report is on your

01:23 desk now for eight months. Is there any particular reason that we should be concerned about the

01:28 delay? Can you give us any steer or a concrete answer as to when it will be published?

01:35 I am acutely conscious of the deaths on the A5 since I have come back into post. Throughout

01:44 my time in the Department, I have prioritised engagement in relation to the Planning Appeals

01:52 Commission's report. As I said in my opening remarks, it is highly technical, highly legal

01:57 and highly complex. I am also required to carry out significant scientific data collection,

02:06 which has taken several months because of the nature of that data collection. That data

02:13 collection is now complete. It is with a laboratory in England, which will report back to me in

02:19 due course. When I have all the evidence, information and answers in front of me, I

02:26 will be in a position to make an announcement at that time.

02:29 I thank the Minister for his answers so far. I also thank the Minister and his Department

02:34 for the work they have done in relation to the A5. I do not think we need to reiterate

02:39 the horror that has been visited on many families, not least in my area. I am grateful for the

02:47 work you are doing to ensure that there are no further legal challenges. In the interim,

02:52 have there been conversations with the Road Safety Board and the PSNA about what can be

02:56 done to keep the road as safe as possible and the people who use it as safe as possible?

03:02 I have had discussions with the PSNA and the Road Safety Partnership are continuing to

03:07 play their part as well. In general, the best way to improve road safety is for all of us

03:14 as road users to change our habits. Whether you are a driver, a cyclist, a motorcyclist

03:21 or a pedestrian, it is what action we take on the roads that decides whether we arrive

03:27 home safe or the people we share the road arrive home safe. I also accept that it is

03:31 the responsibility of my Department where measures need to be taken out, they should

03:34 be taken out in terms of engineering solutions to road safety as well. I am continuing to

03:40 examine options as we move forward to see if I can identify further investment for the

03:47 road and what the best use of that investment would be in terms of further road safety measures