Bernard Durkan
Ceist:45. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Taoiseach the degree to which he continues to explore opportunities under the shared island heading. [20565/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 21 May 2024
Ceisteanna (45)
Freagraí scríofa
Over the last three and a half years, the Government has significantly advanced our Shared Island initiative and continues to progress this important dimension of the Programme for Government, working with all communities and political traditions for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
On 20 February, the Government announced over €800m in funding for Shared Island investment priorities. This included a commitment of €600 million to the A5 North-West transport corridor and progressing of linked road projects in Donegal and Monaghan. Allocations were also agreed from the Shared Island Fund to contribute: to the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast; to introduce an hourly-frequency rail service between Dublin and Belfast; to move ahead with construction of the landmark Narrow Water Bridge; to create a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site and; for new cross-border cooperation schemes on enterprise development and on tackling educational underachievement.
These projects, along with the Government’s other Shared Island investment commitments, are taken forward by Ministers, working with their Northern Ireland Executive and British Government counterparts, and with Local Authority, Education and Civil Society partners across the island.
The Government is working to develop more investment opportunities with the Executive, through the North South Ministerial Council, and with the British Government, to deepen North/South and East/West relationships, and to further develop connections between people right across this island. The Shared Island Unit in my Department is coordinating a wide-ranging published research programme and fostering inclusive civic dialogue on common concerns for the future.
The most recent ESRI Shared Island research report was published on 10 April on Gender and Labour Market Inclusion in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Further work by the ESRI has been commissioned - on income distribution levels and on tackling child poverty across the island - to be published later this year. The Shared Island Youth Forum, which I launched last September, brings together 80 young civic representatives aged 18-25. The Forum has met to consider themes of Sustainability, Opportunity, Wellbeing, Culture and Identity, and Equality, and is meeting this weekend in Dublin (24/25 May) to work on an overall statement of their vision and values for a shared future, to be published in the autumn. Through the Shared Island initiative, the Government is investing in quality of life and opportunity for people, North and South, and interacting with all communities on how we can better share this island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.
Questions Nos. 46 to 60, inclusive, resubmitted.
Questions Nos. 61 to 71, inclusive, answered orally.