Brendan Smith Praises Shared Island Strategy and Funding Plan
Brendan Smith praised the Taoiseach's presentation on the shared island initiative, welcoming its ambition and substantial funding. He highlighted the National Development Plan commitment of 3.5 billion to all-island development up to 2030 and at least 1 billion this decade for the shared island initiative.
Praise for the shared island initiative
Brendan Smith said the strategy builds on benefits from the Good Friday Agreement and can harness its potential. He described the proposals as not just ambitious but realisable projects that can deliver across sectors.
Funding commitments and National Development Plan
He noted that 3.5 billion is committed in the National Development Plan for all-island development up to 2030 and welcomed the statement of at least 1 billion this decade for the shared island initiative. He called that level of public funding "fabulous funding" and said it can do much across society.
Support for local authorities and higher education
Smith welcomed funding for local authorities and the plan to harness local corporate knowledge in border regions. He referenced Koh-i-Bru and Ithakish at higher education level and urged development of more structured all-island cooperation in further education.
Enterprise, research hubs and regional industries
He highlighted the role of research hubs and enterprise, noting that commerce has advanced on an all-Ireland basis since 1998. He pointed to interdependence in his own region - Camp Monaghan, Fermanagh, South Tyrone, Armagh - and named agri-food, engineering and construction products as key drivers. He asked for funding not only for research centres but for enterprise centres providing workspace.
Engagement with communities and young people
Smith welcomed the initiative's wider engagement, saying it goes beyond a small inner circle to include young people and specialist groups. He emphasised involving different sectors and communities in shaping how the island develops on a cross-border basis and concluded by thanking the Taoiseach for the presentation.
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Welcome to Taoiseach's very positive message in his detailed presentation. I believe that the shared island strategies, shared island initiative, will build on the benefits that this island have already received from the Good Friday Agreement, but very importantly, it can harness the potential of the Good Friday Agreement as well. It is not just a strategy, but it is a strategy underpinned by very, very substantial public funding. There are 3.5 billion committed in the National Development Plan for all island development up to 2030. You talk of at least 1 billion this decade for the shared island initiative. That is fabulous funding. It can do so much across all sectors in our society. I believe that what you have outlined is not just ambitious, but realisable projects as well. I very much welcome the fact that you are funding local authorities. In our engagement with your officials previously, we spoke with the great corporate knowledge and know-how that there is in local authorities in the border of the region and that you are going to harness that as well. Also, you mentioned about Koh-i-Bru and Ithakish at higher education level. I will discuss with you previously the potential there for the development of a more structured cooperation on all island bases in the provision of further education. I mentioned to you the potential with our neighbouring college. I believe that we need a strategy in regard to further education because, as we know, many of the people who may have underachieved at younger stages of life go through the route in progressing through further education on to getting third-level degrees and even higher qualifications as well. I think further education is hugely important in dealing with disadvantage and also in dealing with the skills deficits and skills gaps that there are in some areas as well. You mentioned as well about the research hubs. I think enterprise and commerce since 1998 on our island, they have gone ahead and done so much on an all-Ireland basis. In our own region, some colleagues here will realise it, say Camp Monaghan, Fermanagh, South Tyrone, Armagh. We have seen the interdependence of business and commerce. You take the whole area in my own region, agri-food, engineering, construction products. They are key drivers of economic development, both north and south of the border. What I would like to see is funding for enterprise centres, not just research centres, but centres where work space would be provided. I think that is very important as well as the research. Could I also say that I very much welcome the fact that you are involving sectors, not just a limited 80 or 90 people, mulling over every subject. You are going out to the young people, you are going to the different groups who have a particular interest in different subjects and involving them in putting forward suggestions on how they want to see our island develop on an all-island cross-border basis. So very much welcome your presentation this morning, Tisha. Thank you, Tisha.
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