merrion street

An Taoiseach this afternoon set out the overall focus for the Shared Island Fund announced in Budget 2021.

An Taoiseach said:

In Budget 2021 - through the Shared Island Fund with a planned €500m to be made available out to 2025 - the Government is providing the resources to deliver on our commitment to build a shared island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement.

The Shared Island Fund will foster new investment and development opportunities on a North/South basis and support the delivery of key cross-border infrastructure initiatives set out in the Programme for Government.

It also opens the way for investing in new all-island initiatives in areas such as research, health, education and the environment, in addressing the particular challenges of the North West and Border communities, achieving greater connectivity on the island and enhancing the all-island economy and all aspects of North South cooperation.

This complements the Government’s existing all-island commitments, including to the North/South Bodies, to cross-border health services and the Reconciliation Fund, as well as the significant support for peace and progress on the island that will be delivered through the EU PEACE PLUS programme.

Taken together, this is a commitment by the Government of more than €1 billion to investment for the future on an all-island basis to 2025.

The Shared Island Fund is central to the Government’s commitment to harnessing the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to deliver sustained progress for all communities and traditions on the island.

Notes for Editors:

• The Shared Island Fund will provide resources of €500m to be made available out to 2025 to foster new investment and development opportunities on a North/South basis.

• The Shared Island Fund provides significant new, multiannual capital funding for investment on a strategic basis in collaborative North/South projects that will support the commitments and objectives of the Good Friday Agreement and strengthen links across society on both parts of the island.

• The funding will be disbursed to Departments and Agencies in line with the Programme for Government priorities and on the basis of collaborative North/South projects.

• Relevant Programme for Government commitments include those to:

• Enhance, develop and deepen all aspects of north-south cooperation and the all-island economy.

• Work with the Northern Ireland Executive to deliver key cross-border infrastructure initiatives, including the A5, the Ulster Canal connection from Clones to Upper Lough Erne, the Narrow Water Bridge, and cross-border greenways, in particular the Sligo-Enniskillen greenway (subject to feasibility).

• Work with the Executive and the UK Government to achieve greater connectivity on the

island of Ireland.

• Work with the Executive and the UK Government to commit to investment and development opportunities in the North West and Border communities, including third level opportunities for young people from across the region at University of Ulster Magee Campus in Derry.

• Support a north/south programme of research and innovation, including an all-island

research hub, through Universities Ireland.

• Continue to deepen and strengthen north-south health links.

• Explore how bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement can ensure there is a joined-up approach to environmental issues on an all-island basis and seek to develop an all-island strategy to tackle climate breakdown and the biodiversity crisis.