At their quarterly meeting in Donegal on Monday 10th November, the A5 N2 Cross‑Border Councillor Committee — which includes representatives from Monaghan County Council — met with delegates from the Enough is Enough campaign. The committee reaffirmed its support both for the group’s campaign for the delivery of the A5 Western Transport Corridor project, emphasising the shared goal of improving safety, connectivity and economic opportunity along the north-west transport corridor.
The Enough is Enough campaign — initiated by bereaved families, sporting clubs and community groups — argues that the existing A5 road has seen far too many deaths and serious collisions while the promised upgrade languishes. According to the campaign, 57 lives have been lost since the scheme was designated a priority in 2007. Despite the A5 project receiving approval to proceed from the Northern Ireland Executive in late 2024, a legal challenge to the scheme resulted in permission for the project being overturned. An appeal against the court decision is due to be heard in December 2025, however the legal challenges has resulted in significant delays and uncertainty about the project.
At Monday’s meeting in Donegal, committee members from Monaghan, Donegal, Derry & Strabane, Fermanagh & Omagh and Mid Ulster reaffirmed their backing for the project and the campaign’s calls for acceleration of the upgrade to dual carriageway standard. The meeting heard from campaign representatives who presented the human cost of delay and reiterated their demand: ‘No more deaths on our doorstep’.
Councillor P.J. O’Hanlon, Cathaoirleach of Monaghan County Council and member of the committee, said “As the judge advised when he announced his legal decision, delaying the A5 project will very likely result in more fatal and serious injury collisions on the road. Monaghan County Council want to see this road project delivered without any further delays for the safety of everyone travelling in the north-west region, and as Cathaoirleach of this Council and a member of the A5/N2 Committee I will work closely with other local authorities and with governments both sides of the border to support all projects along the route.”
In relation to the wider upgrade of the A5 N2 corridor through the northwest region, Mr Robert Burns, Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council, commented “The completion of an upgraded and continuous route comprising the N2 from Ardee through County Monaghan, the A5 in Northern Ireland and the relevant national road routes in Donegal is critical in ensuring that there is a safe transport corridor that supports social cohesion and economic development in the border and north-west region of the island.”
He added that Monaghan County Council “will liaise closely with our counterparts in Northern Ireland to develop and deliver projects to connect and provide a cohesive upgrade of the northwest corridor”. Early discussions have already started in relation to setting up a working group to explore a cross border connection between the N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme and the A5 at the Northern Ireland border. In the coming weeks Monaghan County Council are also planning to publish an updated design for the N2 Clontibret to Border Road Scheme, which will then allow the project to progress toward the completion of the current Phase 3 design process, with approvals then being requested to proceed to the Phase 4 Statutory Approvals process.
Members of the A5 N2 Cross Border Committee meeting with Niall McKenna (Chairperson) and
Michael Kerr of the A5 Enough is Enough campaign in Donegal County Offices on Monday