The Government has announced ‘unprecedented’ funding for a host of Shared Island projects with the North.
Ireland is contributing over €800 million to the projects – which include the long-awaited upgrading of the A5 road through Derry and Tyrone and a contribution to the cost of rebuilding Belfast’s Casement Park.
Announcing the funding this afternoon, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said the Government is committed to working with the new Executive at Stormont and the UK Government to make the island of Ireland, “a better place for everyone who calls it home”.
The Irish Government has today committed €600 million to the A5 North-West transport corridor.
The Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says it’s hoped work on the A5 can get underway later this year. pic.twitter.com/WLR8nhfXlx
— Barry Whyte (@BarryWhyte85) February 20, 2024
He said the package is the largest the Government has ever committed to cross-border investments.
“This funding is about all-island investment, boosting the all-island economy and improving connections North and South, benefiting both jurisdictions and all communities,” he said.
“It is about understanding that whatever the constitutional future of Ireland brings, 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.”
So where will the money be spent?
- €600 million is going towards the A5 North-West transport corridor and the N2 and TEN-T upgrades in Monaghan and Donegal.
- Construction of the landmark Narrow Water Bridge linking Mourne Mountains in County Down with the Cooley Peninsula in County Louth and complete the Carlingford greenway.
- €12.5 million for a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast.
- A €50 million contribution to the redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in Belfast to ensure it is ready to host matches at EURO 2028.
- A €10 million investment in a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site.
- Up to €54 million for new cross-border cooperation schemes encouraging female entrepreneurship in enterprise and tackling underprivilege in education.
- A new project aimed at achieving UNESCO World Heritage status for the three Astronomical Observatories of Ireland at Dunsink, Armagh, and Birr.
