7. Mr McCrossan asked the Minister for Infrastructure for an update on when he plans to publish the report following the public inquiry on the A5 western transport corridor. (AQO 576/22-27)

The A5 western transport corridor is a critically important infrastructure and flagship project for the Executive. The Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) issued its final advisory report from the latest public inquiry process in 2020 and 2023 to the Department on 31 October 2023. That report included 30 advisory recommendations, many of which are detailed and require legal and professional review, advice and input. That complex process is now close to completion.

I will be in a position to make an announcement in respect of the scheme when I have reviewed all of the relevant information in relation to the project. When I make my announcement, I will do so in accordance with all relevant statutory procedures and on the basis of all evidence, representation and advice that I have received from officials, statutory agencies North and South, members of the public and all other bodies that have participated in the process to date. My announcement will be accompanied by a statement of the reasons for the decision. That will take the form of a departmental statement, which will include a detailed response to the PAC advisory report and publication of the PAC report itself at the same time.

Minister, 56 people have died on the A5 since 2006, and, since the Assembly came back in February, a further four people have died. The report has been on your desk for eight months. Is there any particular reason that we should be concerned about for the delay, and can the Minister give us any steer or a concrete answer on when it will be published?

I am acutely conscious of the deaths on the A5, and I am acutely conscious of the deaths on the A5 since I came back into post. Throughout my time in the Department, I have prioritised engagement on the Planning Appeals Commission's report. As I said in my opening remarks, the process is highly technical, highly legal and highly complex. I am also required to carry out significant scientific data collection. The nature of that data collection means that it has taken several months. That data collection is now complete and is with a laboratory in England that will report to me in due course. When I have all the evidence, information and answers in front of me, I will be in a position to make an announcement.

I thank the Minister for helping me with a question that I asked recently about Moira park-and-ride. I appreciate his help in allowing that project to progress.

Can the Minister give us an update on the essential upgrade of the A1 between Newry and Sprucefield? Has the project moved forward in the last couple of weeks or recent months? Is it any closer to making that road safer for the public?

Again, I am finalising my capital budget allocation and will make announcements later. I am committed to delivering on the A1 junction phase 2 improvements. That is another extremely busy road that has seen far too many casualties and accidents. Those road safety improvements need to be carried out. I hope to be in a position to make further announcements about that matter shortly.

I thank the Minister and his Department for the work that they have done on the A5. I do not think that we need to reiterate the horror that has been visited on many families, not least those in my area.

I am grateful for the work that the Minister is doing to make sure that there are no further legal challenges, but can he confirm whether there have been conversations with the road safety board and the PSNI about what can be done to keep the road and the people using it as safe as possible in the interim?

I have had discussions with the PSNI, and the road safety partnership continues to play its part as well.

The best way to improve road safety in general is for all of us, as road users, to change our habits. Whether you are a driver, cyclist, motorcyclist or pedestrian, the action that we take on the roads decides whether we and the people we share the road with arrive home safely.

I accept that there is also a responsibility on my Department that, where measures need to be taken on engineering solutions to road safety, they should be. I continue to examine options to see whether I can identify further investment for the road and what the best use of that investment would be on further safety measures on the A5.