Written Answers Nos. 16-19
16. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of the allocations for the €500 million of capital investment under the shared island fund up to 2025; the proportion of capital spending available in each specific year; the Departments to which that funding is allocated. [40586/20]
View answer17. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the breakdown of the allocations for the €500 million of capital investment under the shared island fund up to 2025, by year and Department; the proportion of capital spending available in each specific year; the Departments to which that funding is allocated; the identified projects to date; and the available amount of unallocated funding. [40583/20]
View answer18. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the projects that he expects to fund under the shared island fund in 2021; the value of each investment; and the new allocation of funding. [40584/20]
View answer19. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Taoiseach the accounting officer for spending committed to under the shared island fund. [40585/20]
View answerThe Programme for Government sets out the Government’s commitments on a Shared Island and to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund, with a planned €500m to be made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for Shared Island projects, and €50m has been allocated to the Shared Island Fund for 2021.
The Shared Island Fund provides significant new, multiannual capital funding for investment on a strategic basis in collaborative North/South projects.
Funding will be disbursed to Departments and Agencies in line with the Programme for Government priorities and on the basis of collaborative North/South projects. As projects progress towards delivery, funds will be allocated to Departments in a process overseen by the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Disbursement from the Fund will proceed in accordance with Public Financial Procedures. As is normal, the Secretary General of the Government Department to which funding is allocated will be the Accounting Officer.
Funding allocated from the Shared Island Fund will foster new investment and development opportunities on a North/South basis and support the delivery of key cross-border infrastructure initiatives and commitment on Shared Island as set out in the Programme for Government.
Relevant Programme for Government commitments include those to:
- Enhance, develop and deepen all aspects of north-south cooperation and the all-island economy.
- Work with the Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives, including the A5, the Ulster Canal connection, the Narrow Water Bridge, and cross-border greenways, in particular the
Sligo-Enniskillen greenway.
- Work with the Executive and the UK Government to achieve greater connectivity on the island of Ireland.
- Work with the Executive and the UK Government to commit to investment and development opportunities in the North West and Border communities, including third level opportunities for young people from
across the region at University of Ulster Magee Campus in Derry.
- Support a north/south programme of research and innovation, including an all-island research hub.
- Continue to deepen north-south health links.
- Explore how bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement can ensure there is a joined-up approach to environmental issues on an all-island basis and seek to develop an all-island strategy to tackle
climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis.
The Government is working in partnership with the Executive through the North South Ministerial Council, including to progress key cross-border investment projects, which are part of our Shared Island commitments in the Programme for Government. These were discussed at the North South Ministerial Council Plenary in Dublin on 31 July, and an update on progress will be provided to the next NSMC Plenary meeting in December.
