The Irish government has said it will give a lot of money, €800 million, for projects that involve both sides of the border.
The leaders in Dublin agreed on the plans, which include €600 million to improve the A5.
It’s also setting aside €50 million to improve Casement Park in west Belfast.
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said: “The promises we have made today are about helping communities on both sides of the border. ”
We need to invest in people, infrastructure, and quality of life in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This will create better opportunities for future generations if we all work together.
Mr Vardkar said that by spending €600 million on the A5 upgrade, it will improve the connection between the north and south of the island to match the rest of the island.
Mr Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan spoke to the media in Dublin.
The funding news also talks about changes to projects that are already happening, like the Narrow Water Bridge.
Important projects approved – Martin
Deputy Prime Minister Micheál Martin said it was a “special and important moment”.
He said: “Important projects that have been planned for a long time are now approved to start or have received enough money to move forward with the help of partners, like the A5 upgrade. ”
Mr Martin said he was very happy to approve the Narrow Water Bridge project.
He said the money for Casement Park is a big investment in a part of Belfast that has had many problems for a long time.
Irish Transport Minister Eamon Ryan said that the money is coming at the right time and is very important, especially now that the Northern Ireland government is back and the North-South meetings are starting again.
Mr Ryan said that the A5 road and trains running between Belfast and Dublin every hour will make it easier to travel between the two cities.
Mr Ryan said the money was only the beginning and would make the connections in Ireland stronger.
Maskey says good things are happening.
“I’m glad that Sinn Féin’s Paul Maskey supports the money given to Casement Park. ”
The MP from West Belfast said it was a good move towards making a top-notch sports facility.
The SDLP said that the Irish government’s money would help fund projects that have been discussed for a long time.
The leader of the party, Colm Eastwood, wants the Stormont executive to show the promises it made about important projects.
DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson is happy that the Irish government is giving money, but he thinks the UK should also promise to help.
He said that the government of the Republic is not responsible for giving money for public services and infrastructure in Northern Ireland. “That is something for the UK to deal with. ”
‘Enough is enough’
Niall McKenna from the group Enough is Enough said he was sure the new road upgrade would happen, before the A5 funding was confirmed. The group was started after the death of John Rafferty in 2020.
He was talking on the BBC’s show called Good Morning Ulster.
“We are really sure that it will happen this time – everything is going the right way and we are very sure it will happen this time,” he said.
Many people have died on road A5. This road is causing a lot of deaths, and we need to make sure it stops.
Mr McKenna said that people’s attitudes have changed a lot.
He said: “People are not willing to accept that A5 isn’t being delivered anymore. ”
Hamilton Hazzard has been a farmer in Omagh for more than 30 years. He does not support the A5 road plan.
“I might lose 13% of my farm because they want to build a road. I don’t just object because of that. I’ve been asking for the existing road to be fixed for a long time. ”
“We don’t like the plan, but we do want the road to be improved. ”
Mr Hazzard said that the roads could be improved without taking away any land.
He said: “The road needs to be made better with more places to pass, straightened out when needed, and places to pull over, and then you wouldn’t have to use 3,000 acres of important farmland. ”
Today’s announcements are part of a project called Shared Island. It was started by Mr. Martin when he was the leader of the government in 2020.
The Irish government’s plan for the next 10 years includes a lot of money to invest in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
By 2030, there will be more than â¬3. 5bn (£3bn) invested in projects across the whole island, including â¬800m for projects that involve both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The money comes from the government’s Shared Island Fund, Project Ireland 2040 funds, resources for North/South cooperation, and the PEACEPLUS program, which is done with the European Union, UK Government, and Northern Ireland Executive.
