I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 together.
The National Development Plan (NDP) is a high-level financial and budgetary plan, which sets out the framework and broad direction for investment priorities over the period 2021 to 2030.
It includes Exchequer allocations for Departments for the period 2021-2025 to support the delivery of the ten national strategic outcomes identified in the National Planning Framework.
As set out in the NDP, individual investment projects are selected by Departments or Agencies based on sectoral strategy and goals, and appropriate options are assessed in line with the Public Spending Code. In all cases, the allocation of resources is subject to planning approval and compliance with all other applicable environmental law, regulatory and public expenditure requirements for the project concerned.
Projects funded under the NDP will be subject to planning law and may require Strategic Environmental Assessment. Each Government Department is responsible for ensuring that its proposed projects meet the appropriate regulatory requirements including those related to planning laws and environmental impact assessments.
The NDP sets an enhanced level of ambition for collaborative cross-border public investment, to build a more connected, prosperous and sustainable island, for all communities and traditions that share the island.
The allocations for the Shared Island Fund for the period 2021-2025 are set out in tabular form below. Under the NDP, the Government has committed to allocate ring-fenced, multi-annual capital resourcing for all-island investment out to 2030, at least at the current level of the Shared Island Fund. The Shared Island Fund is allocated by Government to Departments on the basis of approved collaborative North/South projects that implement Programme for Government commitments and objectives on Shared Island.
As set out in tabular form below, the Government’s annual funding contribution for the six North South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland and other North South cooperation or all-island funding in 2021 is over €129m. This will be at least maintained over 2021-2030, representing a ten-year commitment in current funding terms of over €1.294billion.
The PEACE PLUS programme is being finalised at present, and will provide over €1billion in funding over the period 2021-27, delivered by the Government with the European Union, UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive. The Government will also continue to contribute to the PEACE IV and INTERREG VA programmes as they conclude in 2021, 2022 and 2023, with a contribution of €39.19m in 2021.
While specific allocations have not yet been made, Project Ireland 2040 funding will support key cross-border infrastructure projects noted in the NDP, including the A5 Transport Corridor to the North West, the Ulster Canal renovation, cross-border greenways, including the Sligo Enniskillen greenway, all-island research centres, and the upgrade of the Dublin-Belfast rail connection to an hourly service, including new rolling stock.
For 2021-2030, there is a total all-island investment commitment of more than €3.5billion through the Shared Island Fund, the Project Ireland 2040 funds, the Government’s annual funding for North/South cooperation, and the PEACE PLUS programme delivered with the EU, UK and the Northern Ireland Executive.
National Development Plan allocations (€m)
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
Shared Island Fund
|
50
|
50
|
100
|
150
|
150
|
Government funding for North/South Bodies and all-island cooperation
2021 budget / contribution
|
(€m)
|
Food Safety Promotion Board
|
5.236
|
Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission
|
2.946
|
InterTradeIreland
|
11.246
|
Languages Body
|
12.790
|
Special EU Programmes Body (core funding)
|
1.055
|
Tourism Ireland
|
48.729
|
Waterways Ireland
|
28.928
|
Reconciliation Fund
|
5
|
International Fund for Ireland
|
1
|
All-island and cross-border Healthcare cooperation (2020)
|
4.159
|
Education cooperation, including Middletown Centre (2020)
|
2.252
|
US-Ireland R&D partnership programme (2020)
|
6.099
|
Total
|
€129.44m
|