Written answers
Tuesday, 8 July 2025
Department of An Taoiseach
Departmental Budgets
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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182. To ask the Taoiseach the amount of the €550 million allocated from the shared island fund drawn down to date; and the means by which his Department manages and tracks this. [37784/25]
Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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To date, over €550m has been allocated by Government from the Shared Island Fund to take forward multi-annual projects and programmes across a range of sectors with over €100m in expenditure by the end of 2024 across all allocations. Allocations are made to deliver on our Shared Island investment commitments and objectives under the Programme for Government and National Development Plan.
Shared Island Fund allocations are made by Government Decision and taken forward by the relevant Government Minister and their Department, working with Northern Ireland Executive and UK Government counterparts, and with local authority, education and civil society partners across the island.
Shared Island Fund allocations are typically made to projects and programmes on a co-funding basis, alongside funding from other public sources and on a collaborative cross-border basis working with the Executive and / or UK Government.
Shared Island Fund allocations are managed by the relevant line Department through their Vote in the normal course, including on annual draw down and expected draw down, in consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. Departments manage and track their Shared Island spending in the same manner as all other Voted expenditure, and in accordance with the requirements of Public Financial Procedures and Infrastructure Guidelines.
My Department’s Shared Island Unit monitors the progress of all projects that have secured Shared Island Fund allocations. Line Departments are responsible for the management of and reporting of funds within their Votes, from the Shared Island Fund and otherwise. A full list of Shared Island Fund allocations to date is provided in tabular form. The table below also provides a snapshot of expenditure at end 2024. Shared Island allocations are made as total allocations in principle at the start of a project. The projects themselves are multi-year and each year a proportion of the overall allocation is drawn down for in-year spending. It is fully expected that allocations will be spent in full by the end of each project period.
Tabular information
Shared Island Fund allocations | ||
|---|---|---|
Project | Total multi-annual allocation (€m) | Voted provision to end-2024* (€m) |
Development of two new all-island bioeconomy demonstrator facilities. Taken forward by the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 7 | 3 |
All-Island arts capital investment projects. Taken forward by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 7.4 | 0.75 |
Shared Island dimension to Creative Ireland and Cultural Heritage projects. Taken forward by the Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport and other relevant Ministers. | 8 | 3.074 |
Pilot cooperation programme on educational attainment (2024-). Taken forward by the Minister for Education and Youth in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 24 | 1.8 |
Shared Island Enterprise scheme (2024-). Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 30 | 0.74 |
Tourism brand collaboration project. Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 7.6 | 0.384 |
Shared Island dimension to Community Climate Action Programme. Taken forward by the Minister for Climate, Environment and Energy. | 3 | 0.72 |
Shared Island Civic Society Fund - total €9m fund including D/FAT contribution (2023-2027). Taken forward by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. | 6 | 2 |
North South Research Programme contribution (2022-2027). Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. | 50 | 32.9 |
All-Island Co-Centres for Research and Innovation contribution (2024-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive and UK Government counterparts. | 20 | 3.147 |
Construction of respite and therapeutic centre for children diagnosed with cancer from across the island. Taken forward by the Minister for Health. | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Construction of the Narrow Water Bridge. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 107+VAT | 33 |
Phases 2 (Completed 2024) and 3 (2026-) Ulster Canal restoration contribution. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 47 | 9 |
Cross-border innovation hub. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Local Authority partners. | 12 | 1.35 |
All-island peatlands and biosecurity projects. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive and Scottish Government counterparts. | 11 | 6.5 |
Shared Island Local Authority development funding scheme. Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. | 5 | 5 |
Electric Vehicle charging point scheme for Sports Clubs across the island. Taken forward by the Minister for Transport. | 15 | 7.15 |
Introduction of an hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast with effect from October 2024. Taken forward by the Minister for Transport. | 12.5 | 0.9 |
Completion of the cross-border Carlingford Lough Greenway. Taken forward by the Minister for Transport in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 1.5 | 0.2 |
Casement Park redevelopment contribution. To be taken forward by the Minister for Culture, Communication and Sport, in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 50 | Subject to project approval by NI Executive |
Ulster University - new teaching and student services building in Derry. Taken forward by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in cooperation with Executive counterpart and Ulster University. | 44.5 | Subject to planning |
Renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site (2024-2028). Taken forward by the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works. | 10 | Subject to planning |
Shared Island nature restoration programme (2025-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 10 | New Project 2025 |
Tourism Shared Destinations projects to develop three sustainable tourism amenities (2025-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment in cooperation with Executive counterpart. | 23 | New Project 2025 |
Arts and Cultural Heritage (2025-2030). Taken forward by the Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport and other relevant Ministers in cooperation with Executive and UK counterparts. | 20 | New Project 2025 |
Total | 567.4 | 114.1 |
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