Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is a very important piece of work. The €500 million will be allocated through the relevant Departments for those expenditure items. A key project to which we have already allocated funding of approximately €6 million is the Ulster Canal. We intend to do more there to bring that project ultimately to conclusion. It will make a significant difference in bringing people together from both sides of the Border to enjoy a wonderful amenity and also develop a first-class facility for people to enjoy.

We have an interesting project coming forward on research. We are trying to develop a programme for research in third-level institutions, PRTLI, type project to be funded through the shared island unit in terms of collaboration between third level bodies North and South on topics of mutual interest. Both of those are coming close to realisation. We are working with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. We have already allocated some basic grants for research projects of €20,000 per project on the shared island itself.

The Narrow Water bridge project is one I am interested in pursuing. Both county councils are committed to it. I have been in touch with the Minister for Infrastructure, Nichola Mallon, on the Northern side.

We are hoping to progress that. Close to June, I would like to be in a position to outline some further projects on which we can get agreement and to which we can give the go ahead. The Deputy will be conscious we have supported a feasibility study with regard to North-South high-speed rail. We have also supported a complementary industrial project in Derry and Letterkenny, in conjunction with the City Deal initiative. We will create industrial parks on both the Derry and Donegal sides to try to develop both indigenous industry and foreign direct investment. This will be an investment in the North West Regional Development Group, whose members have worked consistently over many years irrespective of politics. We would like to be in a position to support that initiative, which will complement the work the group is doing. We will also be funding a feasibility study with regard to the Sligo-Enniskillen greenway. We announced quite a number of projects at the North-South Ministerial Council plenary session at Christmas. We hope to be in a position to announce spending on a number of further concrete projects in June.