Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

25. To ask the Taoiseach the extent to which he expects to develop the Shared Island Initiative in the context of the resumption of the Assembly. [6347/24]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Today, (Tuesday 20^thFebruary) the Government confirmed a range of funding allocations which affirms its commitment to work with the new Executive, and with the UK Government, to implement cross-border investment cooperation that will make the island of Ireland a better place to live for all communities.

This is the largest ever package of Government funding for cross-border investments and is in addition to the near €250 million already allocated from the Shared Island Fund for more than 15 major projects and programmes.

These decisions take forward the Government’s priorities for the initiative in 2024, which I set out in a speech to the 3^rdShared Island Forum earlier this month. Our funding commitments also reflect years of cooperation and partnership by successive British and Irish Government, and with the Northern Ireland Executive and Departments.

Firstly, the Government has decided to make a commitment of €600m to the A5 road upgrade to Derry and Donegal. The statutory activities are at an advanced stage in Northern Ireland, and it is feasible that construction on the A5 could commence later this year.

The Government will also advance planning and design work for the related N2 Clontibret to the border and TEN-T Donegal schemes, to bring North-West road connectivity on a par with other parts of the island, North and South.

The Government is also making substantial allocations under the Shared Island Fund. This includes a €50m contribution to the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in Belfast. This will help realise a long-planned sports infrastructure project in the city and maximise the benefit for Northern Ireland of the joint hosting by Ireland and the UK of the UEFA EURO2028 championship, so this is a North/South project and an East/West project.

In addition, the Government has decided to move ahead with:

- our long-standing commitment to the Narrow Water Bridge between the Cooley peninsula in County Louth and south County Down;

- development of new cooperation schemes in the areas of education and enterprise;

- introduction of an hourly-frequency rail service from Dublin to Belfast. This will almost double the existing service by 2025 and multiply the potential for new business, education and community connections along the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor.

The Government also agreed to progress a major investment in a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site, to enhance conservation and the heritage and tourism profile of a place of unique historic and community significance, including an allocation in principle of €10m from the Shared Island Fund.

We are also moving ahead with work to assist with a UNESCO World Heritage status bid for the trans-boundary Astronomical Observatories of Ireland partnership and related feasibility work up to €250,000 on how the heritage and tourism value of the three sites is harnessed in the years ahead.

The commitments made are about realising the potential of all-island investment cooperation, boosting the all-island economy and improving connections North and South.

This is about understanding that - whatever the constitutional future of Northern Ireland or of the island as a whole - investing in people, in quality of life, in opportunity, and for the generations to come are all of our responsibilities and a common good we can best progress by working together.

That is the focus of the Government’s Shared Island initiative and these announcements represent a very substantial step forward.