report for this scheme recommends a dual carriageway cross section. That section of the N2 from the end of the Castleblayney Bypass to the NI Border at Aughnacloy is also being studied (N2 Clontibret to NI Border). Discussion There have been calls (by both Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland political parties) to upgrade the whole Dublin-Derry route to dual carriageway, including the A5 in Northern Ireland. In October 2006, the Irish government announced it was funding infrastructure costing €1 billion in Northern Ireland, and one possible project to be funded is the upgrading of the A5 Derry–Omagh–Aughnacloy road to motorway standard for a distance of . However, there was no mention of the N2 road being upgraded to motorway standard in the Republic. The Irish Department of Finance website confirmed on 22 March 2007 that £400 million had been set aside for Northern investment to include a dual carriageway to Derry and Donegal. It was unclear if any of this would be built in the Republic. The 2007 Fianna Fáil election policy document on transport included a dual carriageway from Dublin to Letterkenny/Derry as one of Fianna Fáil's promises if re-elected. Although the N2 was not included in Transport 21 and the Monaghan and Carrickmacross by-passes are single lane national primary roads, a feasibility report completed on the N2 Ashbourne to Ardee section recommended a dual carriageway cross section (including the Slane By-pass). Also, in order to tie in with the A5 Western Transport Corridor north of the border, work on the feasibility study for the N2 Clontibret to NI Border Scheme was commenced. The National Roads Authority (NRA) encourages hauliers heading north to Derry to use the M1 as far as the N33 road to Ardee, avoiding the dangerous sections of the parallel N2 in the environs of Slane, Collon and Ardee. M2 motorway On 30 September 2008, it was announced that a 13 km (8.1 miles) section of the current N2 from Killshane to Ashbourne was under consideration for re-designation to motorway standard. Public consultation finished in December 2008. On 14 July 2009, it was announced that the 13 km (8.1 miles) stretch had received ministerial approval to be re-designated. It became a motorway on 28 August 2009. Junctions See also Roads in Ireland Motorways in Ireland National secondary road Regional road References Roads Act 1993 (Classification of National Roads) Order 2006 – Department of Transport Official