The government has announced additional funding of €50m for Shared Island programmes in areas such as biodiversity and peatlands, tourism, language and culture, civil society, research and innovation.
The latest outlay brings the total allocated from the government's Shared Island Fund since 2020 to €190m, with at least €1bn set aside for all-island investment commitments and objectives to 2030.
Speaking at Dublin Castle on Monday, Taoiseach Micheál Martin outlined funding allocations, including €11m for all-island biodiversity actions in peatlands restoration and biosecurity, and €7.6m for a new all-island tourism brand collaboration and marketing initiatives.
€8m has been ring-fenced for Creative Ireland and cultural heritage projects for 2023 to 2027, with €2m for the Shared Island Civic Society fund to allow community organisations to develop cross-border links.
€12m has been tabbed for the development of a cross-border innovation hub, and €10m for a second round of the North South Research Programme, with €37m having been awarded to 62 projects as part of the programme in March.
In Association with
Martin also confirmed a contribution of €20m from the Shared Island Fund for Co-Centres for Research and Innovation on Climate and Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems, administered by Science Foundation Ireland.
The investment cooperation projects will be delivered through North/South and East-West partnerships and all-island funding programmes, by government ministers and their departments working with Northern Ireland and UK Government partners.
"Through today’s Shared Island investment announcements, we will take forward new all-island opportunities including on climate action and biodiversity conservation, capitalising on the island’s tourism offering, celebrating our diverse cultures and traditions, and enabling world class research and innovation capacity on the island of Ireland," said Martin.
"This forward-looking and positive ambition is at the very heart of our Shared Island initiative. We will do more in the years to come - with priorities set by government on enterprise, education, active travel and transport - to create a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island for all communities on the island of Ireland.”
Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said: "My Department remains strongly supportive of and actively involved in the Shared Island initiative and I particularly welcome the allocation of €2m from the Shared Island Fund to support a new Shared Island Civic Society Fund in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
"This funding scheme will complement the vital work that is already supported through my Department’s Reconciliation Fund to promote North-South cooperation and enhance cross-border civic, economic, cultural, and political links across the island.”
Photo: Micheál Martin. (Pic: Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews.ie)
