Ireland's Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Minister Eamon Ryan have announced new Government funding commitments of over €800 million for Shared Island projects on Tuesday, February 20.
The Irish Government has committed €600 million to the A5 North-West transport corridor and is advancing work on linked road projects including the N2 Clontibret and Donegal TEN-T upgrades in 2024.
The Government also agreed to channel funding through the Shared Island Fund to a host of other projects, including:
- to build the landmark Narrow Water Bridge connecting the Cooley Peninsula in Louth to the Mourne Mountains in Down, and complete the scenic Carlingford Greenway, boosting tourism and transport links in the east border region;
- €50 million to a redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast, creating a high-quality sports stadium which can also host matches as part of the Euro2028 tournament;
- €12.5 million for a new hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin;
- Investing €10 million in a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site due to reflect its unique historic significance to communities North and South;
- Working with the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland on how the heritage and tourism value of its three sites at Dunsink, Armagh, and Birr can be harnessed;
- Developing pilot cooperation schemes by enterprise agencies (up to €30 million) and on education (up to €24 million).
“The return of the power-sharing Executive is hugely important for the people of Northern Ireland and has brought renewed hope for what can be achieved through the Good Friday Agreement," Varadkar said on Tuesday.
He said that the funding "shows our commitment to working with the new Executive, and with the UK Government, to make the island of Ireland a better place for everyone who calls it home.
“At approximately €1 billion, it is the largest ever package of Government funding for cross-border investments.
"Construction of the new A5 could start later this year which will bring road connectivity to the North-West on a par with other parts of the island.
"The redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in Belfast will help maximise the benefit for Northern Ireland of hosting games in the UEFA EURO2028 championship which is a major East-West project.
"We also agreed today a major regeneration of the Battle of the Boyne site, including an allocation of €10 million from the Shared Island Fund.
"Investment in an hourly service on the Enterprise will greatly assist the development of business and person to person links between Dublin and Belfast as well as all the towns on the way.
“This funding is about all-island investment, boosting the all-island economy and improving connections North and South, benefiting both jurisdictions and all communities. It is about understanding that, whatever the constitutional future of Ireland brings, investing in people, in quality of life, in opportunity, and for the generations to come, are all of our responsibilities and a common good we can best progress by working together.”
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the announcement on Tuesday "marks an important moment, and I believe, the beginning of a new and positive chapter in cross border cooperation.
“The funding commitments by the Government mean strategically important and iconic projects such as the A5 North-West road corridor, and the Narrow Water Bridge, a powerful symbol and physical connection between North and South, can move forward with real ambition.
“Our funding commitments will contribute to a better-connected island, by road – through the A5 and the connecting N2 and TEN-T schemes – and by rail, with the introduction of an hourly-frequency service between Dublin and Belfast.
“The construction of the landmark Narrow Water Bridge will provide a lynchpin for connectivity and sustainable tourism in the Carlingford Lough region.
“With the major contribution to the redevelopment of Casement Park, a new Shared Island education programme, and a Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, the Government looks forward to working with the new Executive and the UK Government on maximising the impact of our investment to benefit people across the island.
“When I established the Shared Island Initiative in the Department of the Taoiseach in 2020, I was clear that for it to be successful, it needed to be a whole-of-Government priority.
"As ministerial colleagues reach out to and begin visits with their Northern colleagues, I am excited about the future of the initiative.”
Government has today approved over €800m in funding for #SharedIsland investment priorities. A special and important moment. pic.twitter.com/89ET2Y6Qvy
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) February 20, 2024
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that with the funding allocations, "the Government is taking a step forward with our Shared Island investment objectives and meeting commitments under the New Decade, New Approach agreements.
"It is a clear signal that if we are to address climate challenges we are better to work on an all-island basis.
"New funding for an hourly-frequency rail service between the two largest cities on the island will significantly improve public transport connectivity along the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor and is in keeping with the vision of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.
“The Government is also providing funding to complete the Carlingford Greenway, a flagship cross-border active travel project. Other Shared Island programmes on Community Climate Action and Electric Vehicle charging point installation will get confirmation of grant awards in the coming months.”
“We will work to progress other collaborative investment with the new Executive, including further investment in sustainable transport and the green energy transition, so that together we provide for a sustainable future across the island of Ireland.”
The funding for the A5 and the Narrow Water Bridge projects delivers on a long-standing commitment by the Irish Government.
The Government has already allocated almost €250m from the Shared Island Fund, including €44.5m for construction of a new teaching building at Ulster University in Derry and €47m to move forward with the Ulster Canal restoration.
The Government of Ireland will work with the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government to deliver these projects over the next few years.
Work is already underway on several other projects under Shared Island.
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