Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tanaiste Simon Harris, pictured here in September 2024.RollingNews.ie

The Irish government has allocated more than €50m to the Shared Island Fund for a series of programmes in tourism, biodiversity, the arts, and civic society to be delivered over the next five years.

The Shared Island Fund was announced in Budget 2021, with an initial €500m in capital funding available between 2021-25, ring-fenced for investment in collaborative projects north and south of the border.

The Programme for Government reaffirmed the government's commitment to the Good Friday Agreement, and the government is due to increase the value of the Shared Island Fund by €1bn by 2035.

Shared Island Fund allocations are made by the government to take forward investments and cooperation programmes to 'Shared Island' objectives in the Programme for Government and National Development Plan in collaboration with Stormont, Westminster, local authorities education institution and civil society partners across the island.

Nearly half of the new funding (up to €23m) will be allocated to tourism bodies Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Northern Ireland, and Tourism Ireland to develop sustainable tourism amenities across the border region in partnership with local authorities as part of the Shared Destinations programme.

Specifically, a network of trailheads, trails, and water access points across the region will be developed across Carlingford Lough, in addition to a 'Destination Experience Strategy' for the region.

Furthermore, the funding will cover the development of a trail network to link existing trails north and south of the border in Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark and linking the Marble Arch Caves, Cuilcagh Boardwalk and Cavan Burren Park.

Additionally, there is funding for the development of connected walking, cycling, and equestrian cross-border trails around Sliabh Beagh Mountain as well as an international marketing and development programme for each 'shared destination'.

Confirmed terms of reference for each project will be progressed by the tourism agencies for approval by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in consultation with the Northern Ireland Minister for Economy.

All project elements will be progressed in cooperation with relevant departments and agencies, north and south.

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The Shared Destinations programme is intended to build on the success of the Wild Atlantic Way and Causeway Coastal Route brand alignment project delivered by Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, and Tourism Northern Ireland supported through the Shared Island Fund.

Up to €10m will be allocated to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), working with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), to develop a new island-wide nature restoration and biodiversity programme.

Building on the Natura Communities project in the north-west, the programme is intended to deliver and foster community-led action on nature restoration of wetlands and other ecosystems, including coastal habitats; build capacity for long-term wetland management; support locally-based training and employment opportunities in nature restoration; and, enable community participation, capacity-building and knowledge-sharing.

The programme will also include the development of lighthouse sites North and South to develop and demonstrate multi-dimensional wetland restoration that delivers social and environmental returns.

It also aims to achieve the restoration of 2,000 hectares of wetlands and other ecosystems within and adjacent to protected sites over 2025 to 2030.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service and Northern Ireland Environment Agency will agree on a work plan, for approval by government and executive ministers as needed.

Up to €20m will be poured into new arts and culture programmes to support cooperation between national cultural institutions; all-island and international touring and productions; screen sector and cultural asset digitisation cooperation; and Irish and Ulster Scots language, culture, and heritage.

Programmes will be further developed by relevant departments in cooperation with NI Executive and UK government counterparts.

Finally, the Civic Society Fund will be topped up with €6m (€4m from the Shared Island Fund and €2m from the Department of Foreign Affairs) to support "stronger island-wide societal connection, cooperation and mutual understanding."

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“All of these programmes are now resourced to proceed in the years ahead, working through all-island partnerships," said Taoiseach Micheál Martin.

"This is only the beginning of what we will achieve through the more resourced Shared Island Initiative in the time ahead.

"The government will continue to deepen our Good Friday Agreement partnerships - with the Northern Ireland Executive and with the UK government - and work every day for reconciliation of the different traditions of our shared island.”

Tánaiste Simon Harris added: "Today’s Shared Ireland announcements - on sustainable tourism, arts and cultural heritage, civic society cooperation and nature restoration – will enhance the communities in which people live and work and further empower them to connect with people living elsewhere on this island."

*This article was originally published on BusinessPlus.ie.