No decision on A6 start until future funding identified

The Minister has also said that just £60m of an extra £107m earlier identified as a capital source for the A6 must be shared across all major roads projects during this budget period (2011-15).

Replying to an Assembly Question tabled by East Londonderry MLA Cathal Ó hOisín, the Minister advised: “The additional £107m allocated to my Department following the Budget consultation was not wholly assigned to roads schemes. It permitted additional investment in water and sewerage infrastructure, roads and public transport.

“Over £60 million of additional capital funding was received for major road projects, predominantly in year four (2014/15) of the budget period. This will be considered for a range of competing priorities.

“However, decisions to start schemes in 2014/15 will be dependent on the funding made available beyond the current budget period. Schemes such as the A6 Londonderry to Dungiven dualling will take several years to complete and, I could not give approval for construction to commence unless I have confirmation that the required funding will be in place in the subsequent years.”

The Minister stated that the funding, beyond the current budget period, would become clearer once further work had been completed to develop the third edition of the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland. He explained this would conclude later this year.

Mr Kennedy confirmed he had been lobbied by a wide range of bodies and elected members interested in progressing Strategic Road Improvement schemes across Northern Ireland and promised to use these meetings as an opportunity to listen to opinions before forming a view as to the way forward.

“In the meantime, development work continues on a range of schemes across Northern Ireland which are included in the Strategic Road Improvement Programme.

“In particular, development work on the A6 Londonderry to Dungiven project has been progressing well and I anticipate that the draft Orders and Environmental Statement will be published later this year, and will potentially lead to a Public Inquiry being held in 2012,” he stated.