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- Construction of Narrow Water Bridge.
- €12.5 million for a new hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin.
- €1.5m: for completion of the boardwalk between Victoria Lock and the border on Carlingford Lough Greenway.
- Up to €30m for Shared Island enterprise scheme.
Narrow Water Bridge
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the bridge would be a "a powerful symbol and physical connection between North and South" adding "The construction of the landmark Narrow Water Bridge will provide a lynchpin for connectivity and sustainable tourism in the Carlingford Lough region".
The Narrow Water Bridge will be a huge tourism and connectivity boost in the east border region acting as an enabler for improved cross-border active travel and recreation activities including the development of greenways, walking trails and park amenities. The bridge is a longstanding commitment of the Government reflected in the Programme for Government and the 2020 New Decade New Approach Agreement.
Currently Planning permission is in place for a distinctive 280m cable-stayed bridge, anchored by two towers at either end, with segregated car, cycle and pedestrian lanes. The bridge will connect the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway with the R173 Omeath and open to allow for passage of boats through and on to the Newry Canal.
Louth County Council held a tender process for the main construction works contract for the project. The Council will proceed with the final steps in the procurement process and expect to award the contract to the successful bidder in H1 2024. Delivery of the project will be overseen by a Project Board, chaired by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
Welcoming the news Louth County Council Chief Executive Joan Martin said "this significant funding announcement will now allow Louth County Council bring this long-standing, transformative project to fruition, which will open up new and exciting opportunities by linking the Mourne Mountains and the Cooley Peninsula , with huge potential for the local and wider economies.
"I wish to congratulate John O’Hagan, Senior Engineer and David Jones, Director of Services for project managing this to date and I have no doubt they will bring this project to fruition.
I also wish to acknowledge the support of all the various stakeholders in both the Republic and Northern Ireland in reaching this point, and I look forward to seeing construction commence on this iconic project in the near future".
Hourly Rail Service between Dublin and Belfast
The introduction of an hourly-frequency rail service on the Dublin-Belfast line has been long awaited and todays announcement will no doubt speed up its operation. An hourly service will double current frequency and significantly enhance sustainable transport connectivity between the two largest cities on the island and be a catalyst for economic and social connections throughout the Dublin Belfast economic corridor region and across the island.
Speaking about the rail link Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan said “With today’s funding allocations, 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".
Newry and Armagh MLA Cathal Boylan has welcomed the announcement “It’s fantastic news that the Irish Government has today announced an hourly train service from Dublin to Belfast.
“Sinn Féin have consistently called for improved connections between Ireland’s two main cities to support the growing needs of business, retail and tourism.
“This will create greater access for jobs and opportunities, help to tackle the climate emergency and will provide a boost to the thriving all-island economy. We must continue to invest in our rail network and improve connectivity across the island.”
The €12.5m allocated from the Shared Island Fund will be match funded by the Department of Transport, to meet the total cost of introducing an hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin over an initial three-year period.
The additional resourcing will allow for increased capacity for Iarnród Éireann and Translink NI with their respective fleet networks. The increased service will be introduced progressively with an hourly-frequency service expected to be fully in place by Q1 2025.
Newry City Councillor Killian Feehan said “I am currently engaging with people on this area on ways that we can improve the rail offering in Newry and in that context this upgrade is particularly welcome. If we want people to regularly use public transport then we need to ensure that it is reliable, affordable and meets the needs of modern life.
“The SDLP will be seeking reassurances that any new services include stops in Newry, given the large number of people who commute from the city to both Belfast and Dublin. We will continue to work with the wider community to craft a public transport system that serves the needs of people living in this area.”
Slieve Gullion Councillor Pete Byrne added “This improved railway service will make a massive difference not only to people living in Belfast and Dublin, but to everyone living along this line in Newry, Portadown and Dundalk. Thousands of people every week rely on these services for commuting and improving their regularity will open up opportunities for people living on both sides of the border to live and work in these towns and cities with improved transport links.
“Bringing our island closer together through public transport benefits everyone. It not only creates opportunities for jobs and investment, but also protects the environment by enabling more people to choose greener methods of transport. It will also support businesses in these areas.
“The SDLP has been at the forefront of advocating for improved all-island transport, co-commissioning the All Island Rail Review while in government. Today’s announcement is an important step in providing improved transport links, but we still have some way to go to seeing our vision of a fully connected island realised and we will keep pressing for progress in that area in the near future.”
Carlingford Lough Greenway Boardwalk
The Shared Island Fund will provide a €1.5m contribution to enable the completion of an outstanding element of the flagship cross-border Carlingford Greenway, a 1.6km boardwalk structure outside Newry. Funding is also being provided by the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and other sections of the Greenway are supported under the INTERREG VA programme. Currently work is advancing at a pace and the hope is it will be opened by mid 2024.
The project is overseen by the Department of Transport, working with Louth County Council and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.
It's part of the National Development Plan to create an island-wide border region greenway network from the Atlantic coast to the Eastern seaboard, and the Department of Transport are actively exploring potential approaches to link existing border-region greenway routes to develop a transformational green infrastructure asset for residents and to grow sustainable tourism.
Shared Island Enterprise Scheme
InterTradeIreland based in Newry will work with Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland to develop a scheme for cooperation on a collaborative cross-border basis and consistent with each agency’s remit.
The Government has made an allocation in principle of up to €30m for development of a scheme to focus on promoting female entrepreneurship; cross-border networks and clusters; and sustainability and innovation investment. Subject to Ministerial agreement in both Administrations, the scheme will commence in late 2024.
