Written answers
Wednesday, 3 March 2021
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Cross-Border Co-operation
Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cross-Border greenway projects being considered as part of the Shared Island Fund. [11807/21]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund, with €500 million to be made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for Shared Island projects. The Shared Island Fund provides significant new, multiannual capital funding for investment on a strategic basis in collaborative North-South projects that will support the commitments and objectives of the Good Friday Agreement.
The Government’s priorities for such investment are set out in the Programme for Government and include:
- Working with the Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives, including the A5, the Ulster Canal, the Narrow Water Bridge, and cross-border Greenways, including the Sligo-Enniskillen greenway.
A number of Greenways in the border region have been progressing with support from my Department under the Carbon Tax Fund since July 2020. The projects listed below may be able to avail of funding from the Shared Island Fund when it is opened for applications.
Carbon Tax Fund 2020
| Name of Project | Amount awarded | Managing/ Lead Managing Local Authority | Brief Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan Railway Greenway | €175,000 | Cavan County Council | Options selection for the 26 km section from Ulster Canal Greenway, north of Castle Saunderson and with a link to the Cavan - Leitrim Greenway at Belturbet. |
| Inishowen Greenway | €45,000 | Donegal County Council | Route options selection on an 8 km section from Muff to Quigley’s Point. |
| Inishowen Greenway | €180,000 | Donegal County Council | Route options selection on a 32 km section from Buncrana to Cardonagh. |
| Foyle Valley Greenway | €115, 000 | Donegal County Council | Route options for a 28 km section of the Foyle Valley Greenway from Carrigans to Castlefinn. |
| Sligo Leitrim Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) Greenway | €500,000 | Leitrim County Council | To bring a 75 km section from Sligo Town to Enniskillen through the statutory process. |
| Carlingford Greenway | €200,000 | Louth County Council | Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 12 km section from the Tourist Office in Carlingford to Templetown Beach. |
| Ulster Canal Greenway | €100,000 | Monaghan County Council | Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 14 km section from Smithborough to Clones. |
| Total | €1,315,000 |
In December, the Government approved over €6m in funding from the Shared Island Fund to launch the delivery of Phase 2 of the Ulster Canal and we are continuing to work in partnership with the Executive and through the North South Ministerial Council on the other cross-border investment projects, which are part of our Shared Island commitments in the Programme for Government. Progressing these projects was a key focus of our discussions at the North South Ministerial Council Plenary on Friday, 18 December.
I look forward to seeing these important cross-border Greenways progress over the coming years.
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