SDLP Leader, Colum Eastwood MP, has welcomed €800 million of funding under the Irish Government's Shared Island Unit which will support projects including the development of the A5 and Casement Park.

During discussions with former Taoiseach, Micheál Martin in 2019/20, the SDLP Leader helped to shape the Shared Island Unit concept in order to deliver greater cooperation on cross border projects and investment initiatives.

The Irish Government agreed to channel funding through the Shared Island Fund to a host of projects, including:

• €600m committed for A5 North-West transport corridor - work advancing on related N2 and TEN-T upgrades in Monaghan and Donegal

• to build the landmark Narrow Water Bridge connecting the Cooley Peninsula in Louth to the Mourne Mountains in Down, and complete the scenic Carlingford Greenway, boosting tourism and transport links in the east border region;

• €50 million to a redeveloped Casement Park in Belfast, creating a high-quality sports stadium which can also host matches as part of the Euro2028 tournament;

• €12.5 million for a new hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin;

• Investing €10 million in a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site due to reflect its unique historic significance to communities North and South;

• Working with the Astronomical Observatories of Ireland on how the heritage and tourism value of its three sites at Dunsink, Armagh, and Birr can be harnessed;

• Developing pilot cooperation schemes by enterprise agencies (up to €30 million) and on education (up to €24 million).

Mr Eastwood has now called on Executive Ministers to publish their own commitments and delivery plans for key projects.

In a statement, Colum Eastwood MP said:

"The funding announced by the Irish Government today as part of the Shared Island Unit commitment to strategic infrastructure and cultural projects is significant and should help to supercharge some of these projects that have been talked about for years. This demonstrates the real benefit of closer North-South cooperation on projects and initiatives that matter to people and it’s one of the key reasons we pushed to develop the unit in the Taoiseach’s office. What we need now is for Executive Ministers to publish their own commitments and delivery plans.

"The commitment to the A5 is substantial and is higher than previously reported, underscoring the urgent need to get this road built. The SDLP has been making this case for over twenty years and Daniel McCrossan in particular has been a vocal advocate for urgent action to fix one of Ireland's most dangerous roads.

-- Advertisement --

"I also welcome the financial commitment to Casement Park - this will be a transformative project for West Belfast and for Ulster GAA, stimulating investment in a community that deserves it. It is time to put narrow politics aside and get behind redeveloping this site which will bring one of the biggest soccer tournaments in the world to the North and provide a permanent home for Gaels in Ulster.

"The SDLP Opposition at Westminster, in Stormont and in councils across the North will now be pressing for detailed delivery plans to make sure these projects happen quickly. No more hanging about, it’s time to get things done."

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said:

"The return of the power-sharing Executive is hugely important for the people of Northern Ireland and has brought renewed hope for what can be achieved through the Good Friday Agreement. The funding announced today shows our commitment to working with the new Executive, and with the UK Government, to make the island of Ireland a better place for everyone who calls it home.

"At approximately €1 billion, it is the largest ever package of Government funding for cross-border investments. Construction of the new A5 could start later this year which will bring road connectivity to the North-West on a par with other parts of the island. The redevelopment of Casement Park stadium in Belfast will help maximise the benefit for Northern Ireland of hosting games in the UEFA EURO2028 championship which is a major East-West project. We also agreed today a major regeneration of the Battle of the Boyne site, including an allocation of €10 million from the Shared Island Fund. Investment in an hourly service on the Enterprise will greatly assist the development of business and person to person links between Dublin and Belfast as well as all the towns on the way.

"This funding is about all-island investment, boosting the all-island economy and improving connections North and South, benefiting both jurisdictions and all communities. 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."

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin said:

"The funding commitments by the Government mean strategically important and iconic projects such as the A5 North-West road corridor, and the Narrow Water Bridge, a powerful symbol and physical connection between North and South, can move forward with real ambition.

"Our funding commitments will contribute to a better-connected island, by road – through the A5 and the connecting N2 and TEN-T schemes – and by rail, with the introduction of an hourly-frequency service between Dublin and Belfast.

"The construction of the landmark Narrow Water Bridge will provide a lynchpin for connectivity and sustainable tourism in the Carlingford Lough region.

"With the major contribution to the redevelopment of Casement Park, a new Shared Island education programme, and a Shared Island Enterprise Scheme, the Government looks forward to working with the new Executive and the UK Government on maximising the impact of our investment to benefit people across the island.

"When I established the Shared Island Initiative in the Department of the Taoiseach in 2020, I was clear that for it to be successful, it needed to be a whole-of-Government priority.

"As ministerial colleagues reach out to and begin visits with their Northern colleagues, I am excited about the future of the initiative."

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said that with this funding "the Government is taking a step forward with our Shared Island investment objectives and meeting commitments under the New Decade, New Approach agreements. It is a clear signal that if we are to address climate challenges we are better to work on an all-island basis. New funding for an hourly-frequency rail service between the two largest cities on the island will significantly improve public transport connectivity along the Dublin-Belfast economic corridor and is in keeping with the vision of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.

"The Government is also providing funding to complete the Carlingford Greenway, a flagship cross-border active travel project. Other Shared Island programmes on Community Climate Action and Electric Vehicle charging point installation will get confirmation of grant awards in the coming months.

"We will work to progress other collaborative investment with the new Executive, including further investment in sustainable transport and the green energy transition, so that together we provide for a sustainable future across the island of Ireland."