Written answers
Wednesday, 28 April 2021
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Transport Infrastructure Provision
Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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214. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount invested in cross-Border transport infrastructure projects in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21219/21]
Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The Irish Government’s commitments under the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement include working through the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) to help deliver infrastructure projects that will benefit people across the island, to achieve greater connectivity, North and South, and investing in the North West region and in Border Communities.
These commitments are reflected in the Shared Island chapter of our Programme for Government, ensuring their delivery is at the heart of the work of this Government. Specifically, the Government has recommitted to the funding of £75 million over the next three years for the A5 project. Work on a strategic review of the rail network on the island of Ireland and the review to explore the potential for re-establishing viable air routes is advancing, and the Narrow Water bridge and cross-border Greenways continue to be key priorities. 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.
Table 1 below sets out the investment in cross-border roads projects in the period 2018 – 2020, and planned investment for 2021.
Table 1: Investment in cross-border roads projects
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021* |
|---|---|---|---|
| €24,395,177 | €20,820,369 | €15,392,358 | €14,375,000 |
*This includes €260,000 for active travel/cycleways
In addition, the Carlingford Lough Greenway, Ulster Canal Greenway (Phase 2), North West Greenways Network and North West Region - Multimodal Transport Hub have received funding from the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) under the INTERREG VA Programme 2014-2020. The division and allocation of this funding is the responsibility of the SEUPB. Details of investment made by my Department in the years 2018-2020, and anticipated investment for 2021, for these INTERREG projects are set out in table 2 below.
Table 2: Investment in cross-border INTERREG VA projects
| 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| €1,357,390 | €2,535,904 | €1,897,265 | €1,600,000 |
In addition, a number of Greenways in the border region, set out in table 3 below, have been progressing with support from my Department under the Carbon Tax Fund since July 2020. This funding provides support for feasibility, planning and design stages of these projects.
Table 3: Greenways in the border region funded under the 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 8km 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 28.5 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 Blacklion in Cavan through Statutory Process. |
| Carlingford Greenway | €200,000 | Louth County Council | Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 12.31 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. |
| Sligo Greenway | €300,000 | Sligo County Council | Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 35.5 km from Cooloney Sligo to Bellaghy Cavan. |
| Total | €1,615,000 |
With regard to cross-border rail, while specific funding has been provided under the INTERREG VA programme in relation to cross-border rail infrastructure and services in recent years, none was provided in the specific years referred to in the Deputy’s question. However, cross-border rail benefits from the much-increased investment in our rail infrastructure generally, as part of the new €1 billion programme of investment in protection and renewal over the period 2020 to 2024.
Looking to the future, the new PEACE PLUS Programme 2021-2027, which will build upon previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes, will provide opportunities under the EU policy objective of “a more connected Europe”, contributing to the cross-border economic and territorial development of the region. In this regard, there has been significant bilateral engagement between my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, to examine potential cross-border rail infrastructure projects that fit the PEACE PLUS criteria.
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