Jim O'Callaghan
Question:79. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Taoiseach for an overview of the Shared Ireland Programme since its establishment in 2020; the key initiatives taken; and his assessment of their impact to date. [54390/23]
View answerTuesday, 12 December 2023
Questions (79)
Written answers
Through the Shared Island initiative, the Government is engaging with all communities to build consensus around a shared future and delivering benefits for the whole island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
The Government has so far allocated almost €250m from the Shared Island Fund, moving forward with our commitments and objectives in this area in the Programme for Government and the revised National Development Plan. Most recently, in June, we provided €56m from the Fund for new all-island projects. The major allocation was €44.5m for the construction of a new teaching building at Ulster University’s campus in Derry to expand higher education provision in the North West region.
Shared Island Fund projects are taken forward by Ministers and their Departments, working with counterparts in Northern Ireland, the British Government and with civil society and education partners. The Government will seek to undertake more all-island investment cooperation with a new Executive and with the British Government to deepen North/South and East/West relationships.
I met with members of the Shared Island Youth Forum on 7 December to discuss their interactions so far and plans for 2024. The Forum was convened and commenced in September. It comprises 80 members aged 18-25 from North and South across all communities and a diversity of backgrounds and identities. The Forum is meeting over a year to develop a statement of their vision and values for a shared future, to influence and inspire how we share the island across all communities.
The Shared Island Dialogue series is also continuing with over 3,000 citizens and civic representatives participating to date. The dialogues are looking at how, in practical ways we can better share the island into the future. The most recent dialogue was on accommodating national identities, held on 25 October at the Abbey Theatre. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs participated with over 300 attendees from North and South. Reports and recordings from the dialogues are published online.
Finally, the Shared Island unit is commissioning a research programme to provide high-quality evidence and analysis on the whole island, in economic, social, cultural and political terms. There have been more than 20 publications so far, with work undertaken by research partners including the National Economic and Social Council, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Standing Conference on Teacher Education North South, and Irish Research Council. The most recent Shared Island report by the ESRI was published on 27 November on ‘changing social and political attitudes in Ireland and Northern Ireland over the last 25 years’.
Information on all research publications and other elements of the Shared Island initiative is available at www.gov.ie/sharedisland.
Shared Island Fund allocations to date are provided in tabular form.
Allocations from the Shared Island Fund as at 12 December 2023:
|
Shared Island Fund allocations (€m) as at May 2023 |
€m |
|
Phases 2 and 3 of the Ulster Canal restoration contribution Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
47 |
|
Narrow Water Bridge preparing and completing project tender Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
5 |
|
North South Research Programme contribution (funding rounds 1 and 2, 2022-2027) Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
50 |
|
All-Island Co-Centres for Research and Innovation contribution Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
20 |
|
Electric Vehicle charging point scheme for Sports Clubs across the island Taken forward by the Minister for Transport |
15 |
|
Shared Island dimension to Community Climate Action Programme Taken forward by the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications |
3 |
|
Shared Island Local Authority development funding scheme Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
5 |
|
All-island biodiversity actions on peatlands restoration and biosecurity Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
11 |
|
Shared Island Civic Society Fund contribution Taken forward by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs |
2 |
|
Shared Island dimension to Creative Ireland and cultural heritage projects Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
8 |
|
All-Island arts capital investment projects Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
7.4 |
|
Cross-border tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiative Taken forward by the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media |
7.6 |
|
Cross-border innovation hub Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
12 |
|
Ulster University Derry campus teaching building Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
44.5 |
|
All-island bioeconomy demonstrator facilities Taken forward by Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine |
7 |
|
Respite therapeutic centre for children diagnosed with cancer and their families Taken forward by the Minister for Health |
2.5 |
|
Total |
€247m |