Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has repeated the Government's support for a project to upgrade the main road link between Dublin and Donegal, but has refused to commit to a previous agreement to fund half of the cost.
The A5 that runs through Co Tyrone is one of Northern Ireland's busiest and most dangerous roads.
A major project to convert the 58-mile route between Augnalcoy and Newbuildings in Co Derry was approved by the Stormont Assembly in 2007.
At the time the estimated cost was £800 million (€900m) and the Irish Government made a commitment to co-fund it.
However, the funding commitment has since been reduced to £75m (€86m), with the current estimated cost of the proposed A5 Western Transport Corridor having doubled to £1.6 billion (€1.8bn).
Sinn Féin's Finance spokesperson and Donegal TD Pearse Doherty today asked Minister McGrath to recommit to the original agreement to provide 50-50 funding.
Speaking in the Dáil during Leaders Questions, he said the road scheme would help unlock the economic potential of the north-west as well as improving road safety.
Since the project was approved in July 2007, 47 people have been killed in accidents on the road.
It is largely a stretch of single carriageway with a number of overtaking lanes that merge back into single carriageway.
A delayed public inquiry into the proposed scheme is due to re-open in Omagh on Monday.
"Minister, I'm asking you today that your Government recommit to the delivery of the A5 upgrade to save lives and to improve the economic prospects of the north-west and that your Government recommits to co-financing the project as was previously plegded," Mr Doherty said.
In response, Michael McGrath reiterated the Government's support for the project, which he said is "well overdue" and has been delayed by legal challenges.
The Minister said the current funding commitment is £75m, but that there is "a willingness on the part of the Government to re-examine this issue to see what more we can do to help."
"Once we have a project that has gone through all of the statutory processes and we know the scope of the project, the Irish Government won't be found wanting and we'll sit down and engage in the spirit of co-operation recognising the strategic importance of this road," he added.
Mr Doherty, who said he will be attending the public inquiry on Monday, pressed for a firmer commitment.
While welcoming the continued support for the scheme, he asked for a commitment that the Government would go back to the 50% funding agreement.
"I'm asking you Minister, are you willing to go back to the position ... where it was a co-financing of the road on an equal basis?"
Minister McGrath said the Government would have a conversation with the Northern Ireland Assembly and the British Government when the project is approved.
"We are prepared to have that discussion once we have an approved project and once we have people to sit down with and discuss the decision," he said.
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