Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will ensure that the new national development plan sets an enhanced level of ambition for collaborative cross-Border public investment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39837/25]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The different cross-Border programmes have been important since they were first initiated by then Taoiseach, Albert Reynolds, in the mid-1990s. There were the PEACE I and PEACE II programmes and INTERREG programmes. As the Minister, Deputy Chambers, will be aware, the PEACEPLUS programme is very important for all the Border counties, north and south of the Border. I am particularly anxious that we build on the great potential of the PEACEPLUS programme and I hope the Minister will be able to implement even more collaboration and co-operation on an all-Ireland basis in future programmes.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The programme for Government reaffirmed its commitment to the shared island fund and committed to increasing the resources available to the fund by a further €1 billion up to 2035. The shared island initiative is co-ordinated by a dedicated unit within the Department of the Taoiseach, with a focus on fostering co-operation and collaboration across the island of Ireland, aiming to build a more connected, sustainable and prosperous future. The initiative involves working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government and is supported by significant investment from the fund.

Funding from the shared island fund is allocated by the Government to Departments and agencies to support the delivery of projects that implement programme for Government priorities on our shared island. These projects are developed and taken forward in co-operation with counterparts in Northern Ireland and focus on practical cross-Border collaboration in a range of areas, including key infrastructure projects, climate action, tourism, culture and research. In some cases, Departments operate programmes that offer grant and funding opportunities that are open to applications as part of the shared island initiative.

In addition to the shared island fund, as the Deputy said, the PEACEPLUS programme has a total value of €1. I billion to fund projects across Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland until 2029. PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the Irish Government, the European Commission, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. PEACEPLUS is funding regional development projects across a diverse range of investment areas, including skills, education, transport, and socioeconomic regeneration. Investments include €165 million to support replacing the train fleet for the Enterprise service and €32 million for a cross-Border water quality improvement programme.

In my discussions at the European Council of Ministers, this plays an absolutely essential role for many Border counties and is central to our broader discussions in the context of EU funding to complement the work of the shared island fund.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister sincerely for his reply and the particular interest he always has in cross-Border projects. It is heartening that the shared island initiative has been warmly welcomed by people of all political traditions. Different projects I have been involved in, if they have been cross-Border projects, have been funded by the shared island fund, such as the UNESCO Cuilcagh Lakelands Geopark.

I had the opportunity recently to meet the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and Ms Gina McIntyre, the CEO responsible for the PEACEPLUS programme. The programme is being rolled out successfully and there are great plans to expand it. The funding allocated by the Irish Government, the British Government and the European Union is being put to good use for communities right along the Border. They are communities that need investment as they have suffered particular disadvantage. The programme is also building on the potential of advancing different projects on a cross-Border basis that would not be initiated on either side of the Border if the cross-Border dimension did not exist. I welcome the Minister's commitment to enhancing and even intensifying these projects on an all-Ireland, cross-Border basis.

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I share the Deputy's ambition and focus on this critical investment to help to build peaceful and thriving communities. The fund helps to deliver economic regeneration and transformation across our island and empowers and invests in young people, embedding partnership and collaboration. The PEACEPLUS programme and the shared island fund have driven progress across many areas and we are seeing the manifestation of that capital investment in the deliver of infrastructure in some instances and also in important community projects. I met Ms McIntyre in some of my North-South engagement and I can see the critical impact the PEACEPLUS programme is having on many communities across our island. We want that work to continue and be complemented by the position we are taking with the European Union on the PEACEPLUS programme and the ten year trajectory we have set out from a capital perspective under the shared island fund to embed this funding stream for the future.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I warmly welcome the Minister's comments and his confirmation of his Department's co-operation with the Special EU Programme Body. In all my dealings with it over the years, Ms McIntyre and her colleagues have ensured that the best value is given to the taxpayer for the major investment that has occurred and that particularly disadvantaged communities benefit from that investment.