Taoiseach and Tánaiste announce over €50 million for 10 new Shared Island programmes

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris today announced that the Government has made allocations of over €50 million from the Shared Island Fund for 10 new projects to be delivered as part of the initiative over 2026-2030.

Making today’s announcements, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “The Government has today made a funding commitment of over €50 million through our Shared Island Fund to 10 new programmes, investing for the future to improve people’s lives and strengthen connections across the island of Ireland.

“A new Shared Island media programme will be launched next year to support sustained cross-border journalism and more programming content so that we can all know and understand more of what is happening and why it matters, North and South, not just at times of crisis, but every day.

“Fire and emergency services from North and South will deepen their co-operation to enhance capacity and training on management of flooding events and on technical search and rescue operations, building on our proud tradition of mutual support, and acting on the crucial need to plan for and respond to major emergencies together on this island.

“The new Shared Home Place programme, as part of the Shared Island Initiative, will commence next year with programming by the Heritage Council, National Cultural Institutions, through our local authorities and our mission network abroad to foster a sustained, broad engagement with all communities on this island and our diaspora on Ireland’s diverse heritage, and how this shapes our shared future.

“To protect the island’s unique biodiversity, the Government has made a Shared Island funding contribution to expand the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan for farmers, schools, businesses and public bodies to work together across the island to protect pollinators and thriving ecosystems.

“We are also establishing a new airlink between Dublin and Derry, resourcing an expanded Creative Ireland-Shared Island programme and arts projects, supporting development of new cross-border greenways, and deepening co-operation in a number of areas with the Northern Ireland Executive.

“The Government has also today set out our Shared Island investment priorities across all sectors as part of the reviewed National Development Plan, backed by our total €2 billion commitment to the Shared Island Fund out to 2035.

“This is the Shared Island Initiative in action – working with ambition to establish greater connectivity, deepen co-operation and strengthen island-wide community understanding – to create a shared future together.”

 Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, said:“I very much welcome today’s decision by the Government to commit a further tranche of over €50 million for ten new Shared Island programmes. This investment further demonstrates our commitment to building a prosperous and more equal shared island for all.

“The funding announced today will ensure better outcomes for people in their daily lives, connecting people and places, co-ordinating emergency responses, protecting people’s livelihoods, enhancing people’s health and well-being, protecting our nature habitats and environment, and more.

“I am particularly looking forward to seeing the Government’s Shared Home Place initiative and programme take root in our communities, including in our diaspora communities.

“My Department will lead on the diaspora aspect of the initiative, and I will be asking all our Missions to invite their local Irish communities to be an active part of the dialogue on what a shared home place means to them.

“Those communities will bring a unique and an important perspective to the exploration of our shared island of the past, present and future, shaped by their own immigrant experiences.”