Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris will seek Cabinet approval to allocate more than €50m towards cross-border projects.
The Government has committed to increasing the Shared Island Fund by a further €1 billion up to 2035.
Some €510.4m was allocated from the fund between 2020-2024.
Up to €57m will now be set aside for five new projects.
These include €23m for a tourism ‘Shared Destination’ project, a €20m contribution for arts, culture and heritage initiatives, €4m for the next phase of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund and €10m towards a new nature restoration programme.
There will be a €6m investment in the Cuilcagh Lakelands UNESCO Global Geopark in Cavan and Fermanagh to link existing trails north and south of the border.
Another €6m will deliver a network of trails and water access points across the Carlingford Lough region, while the same amount will help develop 73km of connected cross-border trails around Sliabh Beagh Mountain along the border.
Minister for Arts Patrick O’Donovan will also oversee a new €10m Shared Island Cultural Fund to increase cooperation on the island while the Tánaiste will progress the second phase of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund.
The scheme supports civic society groups and community organisations to strengthen cross-border links.
A €10 million fund will be made available for the restoration of wetlands.
Plan for Ireland to hold EU presidency
Separately, Mr Harris will brief the Cabinet on the extensive planning under way for Ireland to hold the EU presidency in the second half of next year.
With less than 500 days before Ireland’s EU presidency begins, the Tánaiste will tell the Cabinet that it will be an opportunity for Ireland to shape the EU agenda and present the country on the global stage at a time of major geopolitical change.
The Tánaiste will tell ministers that holding the presidency is essential for Ireland’s position, influence and reputation in the EU and for advancing the Union’s agenda.
He will also ask ministers to agree that Ireland offers to host a summit of the European Political Community (EPC), the intergovernmental forum for political and strategic discussions about the future of Europe that was established after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, during its presidency next year.
This will involve up to 47 Heads of state and government from across the European continent coming to Ireland next year and, if the offer is taken up, the summit will take place around the same time as an informal meeting of the European Council involving the 27 EU heads of state and government.
Ministers will be told that extensive preparatory work will be required across all government departments for the presidency and that Ireland will now step up its engagement at all levels with EU institutions and member states.
Ministers are to be encouraged to visit European Parliament sessions in Strasbourg and Brussels in the months ahead.
Ireland will hold the presidency between 1 July and 31 December 2026.
It will be the eighth time the country has held the presidency and the first time since 2013.
The Cabinet will hear that work is already under way to identify locations and venues for presidency meetings in Ireland.
Govt to boost employment opportunities for people with disabilities
Meanwhile, the Government is aiming to boost employment opportunities for people with disabilities as part of an effort to provide greater support for those living with a disability.
This plan was discussed last night at a meeting chaired by the Taoiseach which was attended by the ministers for Health, Children, Education, Higher Education, Transport and Social Protection.
The Government is pledging to deliver what it calls a step change in disability services which will be overseen by a new Disability Unit.
This unit will appoint people with external expertise to improve services.
It will seek to find employment for people living with a disability and the public service will lead the way in this area but there will be private sector participation too.
There is also likely to be a move to cut down on the administrative red tape around the recruitment of therapists from Britain.
More disabled access on trains and buses across the public transport system has also been identified as a key priority.
Article Source – Govt seeks to allocate €50m for cross-border projects – RTE
