Funding boost for Narrow Water Bridge and other Louth projects

The Government has confirmed today that it will channel funding through the Shared Island Fund to to build the landmark Narrow Water Bridge connecting the Cooley Peninsula in Louth to the Mourne Mountains in Down, and complete the scenic Carlingford Greenway, boosting tourism and transport links in the east border region.

Government funding commitments of over €800 million for Shared Island projects have been announced. Included in the projects is a new hourly rail service between Dublin and Belfast; investment in renewed visitor experience at Battle of the Boyne site; and completion of the cross-border Carlingford Greenway.

The Narrow Water Bridge will link the Mourne Mountains and Cooley peninsula, providing huge tourism and connectivity boosts in the east border region, and acting as an enabler for improved cross-border active travel and recreation activities including the development of greenways, walking trails and park amenities.

The bridge is a longstanding commitment of the Government reflected in the Programme for Government and the 2020 New Decade New Approach Agreement.

Planning permission is in place for a distinctive 280m cable-stayed bridge, anchored by two towers at either end, with segregated car, cycle and pedestrian lanes. The bridge will connect the A2 Newry to Warrenpoint dual carriageway with the R173 Omeath and open to allow for passage of boats through and on to the Newry Canal.

A tender process for the main construction works contract for the project was conducted by Louth County Council in 2023, in accordance with the Public Spending Code, overseen by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

€12.5 million has been allocated for a new hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin. Funding for the hourly rail service is being allocated from the Shared Island Fund, with match funding from the Department of Transport, to meet the total cost of introducing of an hourly-frequency rail service between Belfast and Dublin over an initial three-year period.

€10 million has been allocated for a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site due to reflect its unique historic significance to communities North and South. The Government has confirmed the major investment in the development of a renewed visitor experience for the Battle of the Boyne site as a priority to raise the heritage and tourism profile of the site which has unique historic and community significance on the island.

A commitment of €10m from the Shared Island Fund has been made as part of the overall funding package for the project, once finalised. This work will be taken forward by the Office of Public Works (OPW) based on a Conservation Management Plan for the site and in consultation with communities North and South.