Today, the Irish government is set to announce significant new funding for cross-border projects, including the restoration of £400m in funding that was previously promised for the A5. Reports suggest that highly anticipated funding for Casement Park in west Belfast will also be announced, amounting to tens of millions of pounds.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Micheál Martin, and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan are expected to address the media at lunchtime regarding the new funding plans. There are also expected to be updates on previously announced projects, as well as new funding for education, health, and infrastructure.
The A5 road from Dublin to Londonderry will receive the full funding that was once promised, now restored in its entirety, according to the BBC. During the financial crash, the road’s funding was significantly reduced, but Varadkar recently confirmed that more funding would be considered to help complete the major upgrade.
The announcements today are part of the Shared Island Project founded by Martin when he was taoiseach in the coalition government in 2020. The Irish government’s Programme for Government and revised National Development Plan (2021-2030) include substantial all-island investment, totaling over €3.5bn (£3bn) by 2030, through various funds and cooperation with the European Union, UK Government, and Northern Ireland Executive.
Niall McKenna, a member of the Enough is Enough campaign group, which was established after the death of John Rafferty in 2020, stated that the group is “confident” that the road upgrade will occur. McKenna noted that there had been a “sea change” in attitude towards the A5, and the public is no longer willing to accept its non-delivery
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