Written answers
Tuesday, 29 April 2025
Department of An Taoiseach
Departmental Funding
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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176. To ask the Taoiseach the amount that has been allocated to the shared island fund since its establishment in 2020; the amount of this that has actually been spent or drawn down to date; and if he will offer an annual expected drawdown for each year from 2025 to 2035 [19652/25]
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 10 April, I announced the new phase of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative in a keynote address to the 4th Shared Island Forum.
Our Programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for building a shared island, backed by a further €1 billion commitment to the Shared Island Fund out to 2035.
On 25 February, the Government announced over €50 million from the Shared Island Fund for new programmes to run over 2025-2030 on: sustainable tourism; arts and cultural heritage; civic society cooperation; and community-led nature restoration.
Shared Island Fund allocations are made by the Government and taken forward by line Ministers and their Departments, working with Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government counterparts, and with local authority, education and civil society partners across the island.
Allocations are made to enable progress with priority projects and programmes that deliver on our Shared Island investment commitments and objectives under the Programme for Government and National Development Plan.
To date, over €550m has been allocated by Government from the Shared Island Fund to take forward multi-annual projects and programmes with over €100m in expenditure by the end of 2024 across all allocations.
Individual Shared Island Fund allocations are managed by the relevant line Department through their Vote in the normal course, including on drawdown and expected drawdown, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. A full list of Shared Island Fund allocations to date is provided in tabular form.
Tabular Information
| Shared Island Fund allocations as of April 2025 |
|---|
| Development of two new all-island bioeconomy demonstrator facilities - €7m. Taken forward by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Casement Park redevelopment contribution - €50m. Taken forward by the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| All-Island arts capital investment projects - €7.4m. Taken forward by the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Arts and Cultural Heritage – up to €20 million (2025-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Taken and other relevant Ministers in cooperation with Executive and UK counterparts. |
| Shared Island dimension to Creative Ireland and Cultural Heritage projects - €8m (2023-2025) Taken forward by the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport and other relevant Ministers. |
| Pilot cooperation programme on educational attainment - €24m. Taken forward by the Minister for Education and Youth in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Shared Island Enterprise scheme - €30m. Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Tourism brand collaboration project - €7.6m. Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Tourism Shared Destinations projects to develop three sustainable tourism amenities in the border region - €23m. Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Shared Island dimension to Community Climate Action Programme - €3m. Taken forward by the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy |
| Shared Island Civic Society Fund - €6m (total €9m fund including D/FAT contribution (2023-2027). Taken forward by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade |
| North South Research Programme contribution (2022-2027) - €50m. Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science |
| Ulster University - new teaching and student services building in Derry - €44.5m. Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive counterpart and Ulster University |
| All-Island Co-Centres for Research and Innovation contribution - €20m (2024-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive and UK Government counterparts |
| Construction of respite and therapeutic centre for children diagnosed with cancer from across the island - €2.5m. Taken forward by the Minister for Health |
| Construction of the Narrow Water Bridge - €107m plus VAT. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Phases 2 and 3 Ulster Canal restoration contribution - €47m. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Cross-border innovation hub - €12m. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Local Authority partners |
| All-island peatlands and biosecurity projects - €11m. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive and Scottish Government counterparts |
| Shared Island nature restoration programme - €10 million (2025-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
| Shared Island Local Authority development funding scheme - €5m. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage |
| Renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site - €10m. Taken forward by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works |
| Electric Vehicle charging point scheme for Sports Clubs across the island - €15m. Taken forward by the Minister for Transport |
| Introduction of an hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast - €12.5m. Taken forward by the Minister for Transport |
| Completion of the cross-border Carlingford Lough Greenway - €1.5m. Taken forward by the Minister for Transport in cooperation with Executive counterpart |
Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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177. To ask the Taoiseach those areas that will be supported by newly announced shared island funding; those who will be eligible to apply for funding; when applications for such will open. [19886/25]
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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On 10 April, I announced the new phase of the Government’s Shared Island Initiative in a keynote address to the 4th Shared Island Forum.
Our Programme for Government sets out an ambitious agenda for building a shared island, backed by a further €1 billion commitment to the Shared Island Fund out to 2035.
On 25 February, the Government announced over €50 million from the Shared Island Fund for new programmes over 2025-2030 on: sustainable tourism; arts and cultural heritage; civic society cooperation; and community-led nature restoration.
In addition, we have introduced targets for all Government Departments to bring forward new cooperation proposals that will implement our commitment to more strategic all-island investment and cooperation over the next five years.
Shared Island Fund allocations are made by the Government and taken forward by line Ministers and their Departments, working with Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government counterparts, and with local authority, education and civil society partners across the island.
Allocations are made to enable progress with priority projects and programmes that deliver on our Shared Island investment commitments and objectives under the programme for Government and National Development Plan.
Information on Shared Island funding programmes, including application dates and requirements, is published by the responsible line Department or Agency and an overview of all programmes is at www.gov.ie/sharedisland.
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