Press release
Ministers O’Brien and Burke open €5 million Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding call
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien and Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Peter Burke are inviting applications from cross-border Local Authority Partnerships for the new Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme.
The €5 million scheme is being funded through the government’s Shared Island Fund and will support the development of new joint investment projects by cross-border Local Authority partnerships to deliver on agreed regional development goals and the Shared Island dimension of the National Development Plan.
The scheme will enable Local Authorities to partner on a cross-border basis to bring new projects through feasibility or pre-planning stages, with a maximum amount of €250,000 per project awarded.
The objective is to develop a pipeline of new proposals at Local Authority level which can seek capital funding for construction and implementation phases, on a cross-border basis, including through the government’s Shared Island Fund.
Areas which may be considered for development funding include, but are not limited to:
Announcing the scheme, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien said:
“Local Authorities have long worked together on a cross-border basis, and many have agreed new regional development goals and strategies. The Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding scheme will enable Local Authorities to take forward these objectives developing a pipeline of new cross-border investment projects. This is part of how the government is working for a more connected, sustainable and prosperous island, as set out in the Shared Island dimension of the revised National Development Plan 2021-30.
“This is a really exciting initiative, which will bring Councils North and South together to explore the potential on their doorstep and develop concrete plans to progress new regional development projects.”
Minister of State for Local Government and Planning Peter Burke added:
“I’m delighted to announce the opening of the Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding scheme, which will provide a resource for Local Authorities North and South to deliver regional development goals.
“The scheme will help take forward new projects, not only in the border region, but also connecting Local Authorities right across the island, particularly in the areas of tourism, biodiversity, heritage and climate action.”
The closing date for cross border Local Authority Partnerships to apply to Shared Island Local Government Development Funding Scheme is 27 May 2022.
The Shared Island Local Authority Development Funding Scheme will provide support to develop joint investment projects by cross-border Local Authority partnerships that can deliver shared regional development goals on a North-South basis.
Development funding of up to €5 million will be made available under this scheme. Funding will be available for two types of projects:
1) Feasibility stage
Development funding award to enable feasibility work to be conducted on new investment projects to be delivered by cross-border Local Authority partnerships.
2) Pre-planning stage
Development funding award to bring cross-border Local Authority partnership projects, which have undergone feasibility and other necessary initial assessment to pre-planning stage (or to tender stage, where planning is in place).
Development funding awards up to a maximum of €250,000 per project are envisaged.
Applications must have a clear North/South basis, and relate to implementation of one or more investment priorities on Shared Island as set out in the Programme for Government or the Shared Island dimension of the revised National Development Plan 2021-30.
Applications are to be made by a lead Local Authority in the South, in partnership with at least one Local Authority in Northern Ireland.
Applications from multi-council partnerships will also be considered, where there is a cross-border dimension and a lead Local Authority in the South. Other non-Local Authority partners may also be involved, for instance, HEIs and ETBs, Enterprise Agencies or Transport authorities.
Expenditure is to be fully programmed within 12 months.
An award of development funding will not represent a commitment to any subsequent award of implementation funding. Funding awards at that stage will be subject to a separate assessment process.