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€ 500 million will be allocated over the next five years to the Government’s “shared island” initiative, which aims to support cross-border cooperation, joint infrastructure projects and education, health, tourism and climate action projects across Ireland.
The “Shared Island” unit was established in the Department of the Taoiseach by Micheál Martin, with a senior official appointed to head the group.
He has been criticized by Sinn Féin, who instead wants to prepare for a border poll that he hopes will usher in a united Ireland. However, Mr. Martin has rejected the party’s demands and said that he wishes to build cooperation and better relations with the Stormont administration and promote cross-border cooperation rather than push the constitutional issue.
On Tuesday, Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath announced that he would set aside € 500 million in funding for the shared island initiative over five years.
Later, in a statement, Mr. Martin said: “The Shared Island Fund will foster new investment and development opportunities on a North-South basis and will support the delivery of key cross-border infrastructure initiatives set out in the program for the government.
“It also opens the way to invest in new island-wide initiatives in areas such as research, health, education, and the environment, to address the particular challenges of Northwest and border communities, achieve greater connectivity in the island and improve the island’s economy and all aspects of North-South cooperation. “
An accompanying note from officials said the money would be allocated to government departments and agencies to fund a variety of cross-border projects, in accordance with the program’s commitments to the government.
These include “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)” .
It would also be available for “investment and development opportunities in Northwest and border communities, including third-level opportunities for youth from across the region on the campus of Ulster Magee University in Derry,” the note read.
Other potential projects include “a North-South research and innovation program, which includes a research center on all the islands, through Universities Ireland”; North-South Health Linkages and a “Island-wide Strategy to Address Climate Breakdown and Biodiversity Crisis”.
The budget documentation shows an allocation of 50 million euros for next year for the fund. Officials said the rest of the funding would be provided in a revised National Development Plan.
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