Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, together.

As provided for in the programme for Government, we are progressing the shared island initiative, to benefit the whole island by working with all communities and traditions for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. This involves: unprecedented all-island investment through our €1 billion shared island fund; engaging with all communities through a comprehensive dialogue series on how we could better share the island; and commissioning research to deepen understanding of the whole island in economic, social, cultural and political terms.

The Government has so far allocated €191 million from the fund. With this resourcing, we are moving ahead with long-standing commitments, like the Ulster Canal and the Narrow Water bridge, and with new investments that meet the objectives under the revised national development plan to create a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island for all communities.

New initiatives that have been funded from the shared island fund include a €50 million contribution to the North-South research programme; €15 million for electric vehicle charging points at sports clubs across the island; €5 million seed funding to develop new cross-Border local authority investment projects; and €11 million for all-island actions on peatland restoration and biosecurity.

Projects are taken forward by Ministers and their Departments, working through all-island partnerships, including with counterparts in the North and the UK, and with local authorities, educational institutions and civil society. A full list of shared island fund allocations can be provided to Deputies by correspondence.

Shared island unit costs primarily relate to the research programme and dialogue series with approximately €620,000 in expenditure on the shared island research programme and €200,000 on the shared island dialogue series in 2022. A full outline can be provided in tabular format for last year.

The programme for Government affirms the Government’s commitment to greater investment in the north west and Border regions. There have been a series of shared island fund allocations for existing and new investment projects, including on tourism and innovation, which signifies significant funding in the region. Institutions have also successfully applied for funding through the shared island local authority development funding scheme and the North-South research programme. Specifically in the north west, the Government is working to move ahead this year with our commitment under the New Decade, New Approach agreement to capital investment at Ulster University’s campus in Derry to expand provision for young people in the region.

We are firmly committed to capital investment in the A5 road upgrade, as provided for under the New Decade, New Approach agreement, and hope to see this progress without undue delay.

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