Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
136. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Taoiseach his plans for the allocation of the shared island fund; and if an application process for this funding will be open to existing cross-Border bodies such as groups (details supplied). [14705/21]
View answerOn 22 October, I set out the Government’s vision and priorities on Shared Island in an online event at Dublin Castle. A Shared Island unit has been established in my Department to coordinate and drive this work as a whole of Government priority.
In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund, with €500m to be made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for Shared Island projects. The Shared Island Fund provides significant new, multi-annual capital funding for investment on a strategic basis in collaborative North/South projects that will support the commitments and objectives of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Government will work in partnership with the Northern Ireland Executive and with the British Government to progress existing and new cross-border investment projects.
In this context, collaborative proposals from Local Authorities in border regions will be considered, taking account of overall regional development strategy and complementarity with the commitments and objectives on Shared Island that are set out in Programme for Government. The Shared Island unit in my Department, is actively engaging with Local Authorities and the cross-border Local Authority forums.
In December, over €6m in funding from the Shared Island Fund was approved by the Government to launch the delivery of Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal. We are continuing to work in partnership with the Executive and through the North South Ministerial Council on the other cross-border investment projects, which are part of our Shared Island commitments in the Programme for Government. Progressing these projects was a key focus of our discussions at the North South Ministerial Council Plenary in December 2020. I have also had constructive engagement with British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on the Government’s Shared Island objectives and commitments, and have made it clear that we are happy also to engage on an East-West basis as we take this work forward.
Other relevant Programme for Government commitments include those to:
Work with the Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives, including the A5 road, 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.
I met with members of the North West Strategic Growth Partnership and the North West Regional Development Group on 18 February. We had a very productive discussion on their views and priorities for the North West City region and the Government’s complementary objectives as part of the Shared Island initiative.
There is also ongoing engagement at Ministerial and Departmental levels with Local Authorities and cross-border Local Authority forums, including the North West Strategic Growth Partnership and Regional Development Group, the East Border Region and the Irish Central Border Area Network (ICBAN).
I welcome the North West Regional Development Group’s recently agreed statement of updated regional priorities for the North West region, as well as the publication today of ICBAN’s Framework of Regional Priorities for the Central Border Region and the Dublin Belfast Economic Corridor’s report on Current Profile, Potential in Recovery & Opportunities for Cooperation.
Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to the strategic challenges facing Ireland, North and South are key objectives for the Government’s Shared Island initiative. The role and contribution of Local Authorities in these areas is being taken account of as part of the research and civic dialogue work that is being progressed by the Shared Island unit in my Department.
