Shared Island Fund will support new cross-border initiatives on climate action, EV charging, sustainable tourism and recreation, and the arts
Cross-border local authority partnerships progressing new investment projects
Fianna Fáil TD fo Cavan-Monaghan & North Meath, Niamh Smyth, has today welcomed €70.4m from the Shared Island Fund to deliver five new cross-border and all-island initiatives.
These are:
· €5m for a Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme;
· €3m for a Shared Island strand to the Community Climate Action Programme;
· €15m for a Shared Island Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure scheme;
· €7.4m for Shared Island Arts investment projects; and,
· €40m contribution for delivery of Phase 3 of the Ulster Canal restoration
Deputy Smyth said, “Today’s announcement sets out an ambitious, cross-Government programme of work, which will bring communities, North and South, together to work on shared strategic priorities.
"I was delighted to receive confirmation that €40m has been allocated towards the delivery of Phase 3 of the Ulster Canal restoration. Phase 3 is central to delivery of the commitment under the Programme for Government and the New Decade New Approach agreement to complete the Ulster Canal restoration from Clones to Upper Lough Erne.''
The feasibility and pre-development work of this phase was enabled by an allocation of €1m from the Shared Island Fund in December 2020.
Three of the four sub-sections of this phase are now ready to be progressed.
- Phase 3.1 (2kms) Castle Saunderson to Gortnacarrow
- Phase 3.2 (0.5kms) Gortnacarrow to the Border
- Phase 3.4 (3.75kms) New canal navigation between the border at Derrynure and the border at Clonfad.
Deputy Smyth concluded by saying, "The Shared Island Initiative is proof of Fianna Fail’s commitment to delivering all-island solutions which produce real results and benefits for people on either side of the border.”