4 August 2025

SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan has said there can be no repeat of the court ruling that saw the A5 project delayed.

He was speaking as the Infrastructure Minister Liz Kimmins was expected to announce her decision on Monday, the deadline for appealing the decision.

West Tyrone MLA Mr McCrossan said:

“It’s deeply regrettable that the Minister has left it until the very last minute to announce an appeal into the court judgement that has once again delayed work on the A5. From the hour the judgement was issued I have been urging the Minister to lodge an appeal and address the court’s concerns, and there is a real sense of anger and frustration in this area that there has been relative silence since.

“The judgement was clear that there were outstanding concerns around climate targets that must be addressed. I cannot understand how despite several meetings with DAERA, the Department for Infrastructure and the previous Minister still failed to adequately address this. There can be no repeat of this incompetence during this appeal process.

“This must be the final delay. Far too many lives have been lost already and until this upgrade is delivered everyone who travels on this road is at risk. The A5 project is of vital importance to everyone living in the North West of this island and the Minister must ensure the mistakes of the past are not repeated.”