Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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378. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the number of cross-Border or shared Island initiatives currently being progressed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31382/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is currently working in close co-operation with other Government Departments North and South on a significant a number of cross-border and Shared Island initiatives, as set out below.

Cross-Border Initiatives

1. The All-Island Climate and Biodiversity Research Network (AICBRN) brings together researchers from across the island of Ireland who are undertaking researching the climate and biodiversity fields. The work of the AICBRN includes the facilitation of knowledge sharing, expertise mapping and gap analysis, and policy and funding applications workshops.

2. PEACE PLUS is a €1.145 billion North South cross-border EU programme for the 2021-27 programming period. It succeeds the outgoing 2014-20 INTERREG VA and PEACE IV North South EU programmes by combining these two funding strands into a single, cohesive new programme covering Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland (i.e. Cavan, Donegal, Louth, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo).

While primary responsibility for the PEACE PLUS programme lies with the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, there is an Accountable Department, North and South, for each Investment Area, with my Department being the Accountable Department for a number of investment areas under Theme 5: Supporting a Sustainable Future:

• Investment Area: 5.1 Biodiversity, Nature Recovery and Resilience
• Investment Area: 5.2 Marine and Coastal Management
• Investment Area: 5.3 Water Quality and Catchment Management
• Investment Area: 5.4 Water improvement

3. The National Monuments Service of my Department is funding the Discovery Programme to develop an All Island Strategic Archaeological Research Framework.

4. The National Monuments Service of my Department is collaborating on a World Heritage Royal Site Application with the Northern Ireland Department of Communities’ Historic Environment Division to progress the transboundary Royal Sites UNESCO application.

5. The National Built Heritage Service of my Department and the Historic Environment Division, Department of Communities on Cultural Heritage and Climate Action have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Heritage and Climate Action which is operational since 8 July 2021.

6. The National Built Heritage Service of my Department and the Historic Environment Division, Department of Communities on Cultural Heritage and Climate Action have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Ireland's Vernacular Built Heritage which is operational since 25 January 2022.

7. The Social Inclusion Unit of my Department is engaging with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE) to explore through a research project the feasibility of an all-island approach to the provision of a network of transient sites.

8. Approved Housing Bodies Policy and Agency Governance Unit of my Department participates in the British Irish Council – Housing work sector. Through the work of the BIC Housing Work Sector, Member Administrations are committed to sharing approaches and information in relation to key areas of housing policy development and implementation. The work sector encompasses inter alia promoting collaboration in the development of policies and interventions in areas such as design, supply and allocation of social housing and affordable housing challenges.

9. Aviation services within Met Éireann of my Department continue to participate in operational engagement with the UK Met Office regarding consistency of warnings for “enroute aviation crossing the flight information boundaries” under the responsibility of the two States. This is an ongoing operational matter and is founded on ICAO guidelines and best practice, as detailed in ICAO Doc 014EUR SIGMET AIRMET Guide 5th Edition 2023.

Shared Island Initiatives

1. Cross-border Innovation Hub in Letterkenny

The Urban Regeneration and Development Fund Unit of my Department is responsible for managing the Government’s commitment to provide support from the Shared Island Fund to Donegal County Council for construction of a co-located North West Innovation Hub in Letterkenny.

This Shared Island-funded project is being taken forward by my Department, in consultation with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and in a coordinated approach with the British Government as funder of the Derry side of the project.

Approval was issued to the Donegal 2040 Strategic Development Company (set up by Donegal County Council to manage the project) in January 2024 to proceed to tender for the construction of the Letterkenny element of the project.

While the restricted tendering process undertaken by Donegal 2040 did not result in a successful tenderer being identified to deliver the overall project, based on the excessive costs submitted, Donegal 2040 are confident that a new procurement process should lead to tender submissions more in line with market rates and their own estimated costs for the project.

As a result, a further tender process is planned for later this year.

2. Shared Island Invasive Species Initiative

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of my Department secured €1m in Shared Island funding in December 2022 to implement an Invasive Species and Biosecurity project. This 5-year project is led by NPWS in partnership with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency, and managed by the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

3. Shared Island Initiative Peatlands Programme (SIIPP)

The EU-funded Wild Atlantic Nature LIFE Integrated Project secured funding of €10 million from the Government’s Shared Island Fund and an additional €5million in co-funding through NPWS of my Department, in collaboration with the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) and NatureScot for a Shared Island Initiative Peatlands Programme. This programme is scheduled to run from 2023–2027.

SIIPP involves the development of lighthouse demonstration sites in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland to deliver practical peatland restoration, build capacity for long-term peatland management, undertake research and monitoring, exchange knowledge, and address socio-cultural issues across a range of restoration scenarios.

4. Natura Communities Project

In February 2025, Shared Island funding of €10 million was approved by the Irish Government to help support the restoration of nature and biodiversity at a local level. This will be matched by €5m in funding from the NPWS over the six-year course of the project from 2025-2030.

Building on the successful pilot Natura Communities project, delivered in the North West by the NPWS with community and regional partners, the expanded programme will work with local authorities and communities, both North and South, to:

• deliver and foster community-led action on nature restoration of wetlands and other ecosystems including coastal habitats
• support locally-based training and employment opportunities in nature restoration; and,
• enable community participation, capacity-building and knowledge-sharing.

5. Ulster Canal Restoration Project

The Ulster Canal Restoration Project is a flagship North-South project, supported by the Shared Island Fund, managed by Waterways Ireland and overseen by my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

The project is being delivered in 3 Phases.

Phase 1: Lough Erne to Castlesaunderson (completed 2019).

Phase 2: Clones to Clonfad (completed June 2024).

Phase 3: Clonfad to Castlesaunderson (Comprising 4 distinct sub-phases. Substantial preparatory work for this phase is currently underway).

6. Narrow Water Bridge

The Narrow Water Bridge project is a flagship North-South project and a longstanding Government commitment. It is funded by the Shared Island Initiative, managed by Louth County Council and overseen by my Department, with support from the Department for Infrastructure and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council When complete, the 195mcable-stayed bridge will connect Cornamucklagh near Omeath, Co. Louth with Narrow Water near Warrenpoint, Co. Down, providing a direct link between the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula. The main construction works commenced in June 2024, with a substantial completion date in Q4 2027.

My Department does not maintain the requested information in respect of the State bodies under its aegis. Arrangements have been put in place by all bodies under the aegis of my Department to facilitate the provision of information directly to members of the Oireachtas. This provides a speedy, efficient and cost effective system to address queries directly to the relevant bodies. The contact email addresses in this regard are set out in the table below:

Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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379. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he will provide an update on the Ulster Canal project; the number of phases of the project that have been completed to date; the total spend on each phase of the project to date; the total amount committed by Government for the next phase of the project; if negotiations with landowners have started in respect of future phases of the project; the expected completion date for the overall project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31383/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The restoration of the Ulster Canal restoration is a major cross-border project funded by the Government, with the majority of funding coming from Shared Island Fund and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The project is being delivered by Waterways Ireland, in three phases, two of which are now complete:

• Phase 1 from Upper Lough Erne to Castle Saunderson (completed in 2019);

• Phase 2 from Clones to Clonfad (completed June 2024); and

• Phase 3 Castle Saunderson to Clonfad (underway).

Phase 3 is the longest stretch at 10 km and is the most complex stage. It includes 10km of new and refurbished navigable canal and towpath, bridges, locks, marina and service blocks.

Waterways Ireland appointed a project lead for Phase 3 in December 2024 and a detailed design tender for sub-phases 3.1 and 3.2 issued in April 2025.

Waterways Ireland continues to liaise with relevant stakeholders. including affected landowners.

Substantial preliminary work is underway on Phase 3 with the immediate priority being the implementation of the Land Acquisition Strategy for the delivery of its four sub-phases. Waterways Ireland has corresponded with all landowners, providing a project update. More detailed engagement has commenced recently with land owners in Sub Phase 3.1 & 3.2.

Estimated completion of all elements (subject to land acquisition and the necessary planning consent for sub-phase 3.3) is 2029.

Expenditure up to the end of 2024 for Phases 1 and 2 was €33,422,334. The Irish Government, through the Shared Island Fund, has to date committed to funding of €40 million for Phase 3, with match funding of €40 million from my Department.