The Shared Island Initiative, launched by the Irish Government in 2021, aims to enhance cooperation and connection across the island of Ireland, fostering a shared future underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. With a commitment of €500 million in capital funding from 2021 to 2025, the initiative supports various collaborative North-South projects.
Irish Election 2024: Promises
Fine Gael: Build upon the Shared Island initiative – a project set up in 2021 to invest in cross-border projects with Britain’s province of Northern Ireland and deepen North-South cooperation.
Fianna Fail: Engage with other parties on how potential proposals concerning future Irish unity could be developed and invest another 1 billion euros in cross-border projects.
Fine Gael / Fianna Fail are concluding their discussions on forming a government in early 2025 with same rotating of positions as previous government. Awaiting confirmation of SII funding over next five year term.
Key Components of the Shared Island Initiative:
Strategic Collaboration: Working with the Northern Ireland Executive and the British Government to address challenges faced across the island.
Economic and Regional Development: Advancing the all-island economy, deepening North/South cooperation, and investing in the North West and border regions.
Inclusive Dialogue and Research: Promoting constructive dialogue and comprehensive research to build consensus around a shared future.
Notable Projects and Funds Under the Initiative:
Shared Island Fund: Announced in Budget 2021, this fund allocates €500 million for investment in collaborative North/South projects from 2021 to 2025.
Shared Island Bioeconomy Demonstration Initiative: Launched in March 2024 with a budget of €9 million, this initiative supports bioeconomy piloting and demonstration actions across Ireland and Northern Ireland, promoting sustainable and circular projects in the agri-bioeconomy and blue bioeconomy sectors.
Creative Ireland Shared Island Initiative 2023-2025: This program explores creative opportunities for young people to connect across the island, fostering cultural collaboration and understanding.
Shared Island Civic Society Fund: Opened for applications in June 2024, this fund makes up to €1.5 million available to organizations working on North-South projects across various sectors, supporting civic engagement and community development.
Coast-to-Coast Investment Scheme: Part of the Shared Island Tourism Brand Collaboration Project, this €3 million scheme aims to enhance visitor attractions along the Wild Atlantic Way and the Causeway Coastal Route, encouraging cross-border tourism and economic growth.
As the initiative progresses into 2025, it continues to support projects that promote collaboration, economic development, and cultural exchange across the island of Ireland, contributing to a more connected and shared future.
The Irish Shared Island Initiative is designed to fund projects that enhance connectivity and cooperation across the island of Ireland, focusing on infrastructure, education, health, and other areas of mutual benefit. Here’s how the Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC) proposal may align with the eligibility criteria of the Shared Island Initiative:
Alignment with Eligibility Criteria:
- Cross-Border Connectivity and Cooperation:
- SLC Proposal: The Strangford Lough Crossing would connect communities, potentially enhancing economic activities between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This mirrors the aim of the Narrow Water Bridge, which is to boost tourism and transport links by connecting the Mourne Mountains to the Cooley Peninsula. Both projects aim to improve and further physical connectivity, which is central to the Shared Island Initiative’s goals.
- Economic Development:
- SLC Proposal: By improving transport links, the SLC could stimulate economic growth by easing access to markets, services, and employment opportunities throughout the island, similar to how the Narrow Water Bridge is expected to benefit local economies through increased tourism. For example, the fishing ports of Portavogie, Ardglass, and Kilkeel, all part of the fishing-dependent communities, could see enhanced access to markets and support services if connected by improved infrastructure.
- Sustainability and Environmental Considerations:
- SLC Proposal: Any proposal under the Shared Island Initiative must consider sustainability. The SLC project could be framed to include sustainable transport solutions or green infrastructure, akin to the environmental considerations in the Narrow Water Bridge project.
- Community Engagement and Impact:
- SLC Proposal: Demonstrating community support and the project’s impact on local communities would be crucial. Engaging with local stakeholders, similar to how the Narrow Water Bridge engages with communities for active travel and recreation, would strengthen the application.
Based on a Department for Infrastructure (DfI) Environmental Information Regulations response from October 2024 (ref: DFI/2024-0391), several key issues emerge that support the case for considering a Strangford Lough Crossing:
Environmental Concerns:
- Noise Pollution:
- Both ferries exceed WHO recommended noise levels during daytime operations
- Multiple noise assessments (2002, 2011, 2018) have consistently shown excessive noise levels
- Night operations are technically unsuitable according to surveys, yet still operate on Saturday nights
- DfI has made only limited modifications to address noise issues
- Air Quality Issues:
- MV Portaferry II (25 years old) uses an outdated dry exhaust system that:
- Creates greater airborne pollution
- Contributes to localized smog in foggy conditions
- Will not be upgraded as “not considered value for money” due to vessel age
- Operational Inefficiencies:
- Both vessels must be used “interchangeably to avoid unnecessary deterioration”
- Vehicle queuing at terminals creates additional pollution
- Limited operating hours due to noise restrictions impact service availability
Financial Implications:
- Current Costs:
- Annual operational costs: £3,520,000 (2023-24)
- Annual refits required for both vessels regardless of limited nautical miles (6,400 per year)
- Ongoing maintenance costs for aging vessel (MV Portaferry II)
- Investment Decisions:
- DfI unwilling to upgrade 25-year-old MV Portaferry II despite environmental impacts
- New vessel (MV Strangford II) cannot be fully utilized due to operational constraints
Service Limitations:
- Infrastructure Constraints:
- Vehicle capacity limited by current ferry design
- Operating hours restricted by noise impacts
- Weather dependent service (fog impacts)
- Regulatory Requirements:
- Annual refits mandatory for Maritime & Coastguard Agency certification
- Regular inspections and safety equipment renewals required
- Environmental regulations increasingly challenging to meet with current vessels
This evidence suggests the current ferry service faces significant environmental, operational and financial challenges that are unlikely to be resolved within the existing model. The DfI’s response indicates a reluctance to invest in upgrading aging infrastructure, while environmental and operational constraints limit service improvements.
Cross-referencing with the “Strangford Lough Ferry Service Strategic Review Report 2013”, these issues have persisted and worsened over time, suggesting a structural problem that might be better addressed through alternative infrastructure solutions such as a fixed crossing.
The increasing costs, environmental impacts, and service limitations provide strong supporting evidence for exploring alternative crossing options that could offer:
- 24/7 unrestricted access
- Lower environmental impact
- Reduced long-term operational costs
- Greater capacity and reliability
- Weather-independent operation

In a perfect storm scenario, there are several new and significant developments in 2024 that strengthen the case for a Strangford Lough Crossing (SLC):
- Environmental Evidence
From DFI/2024-0391:
- First official confirmation that ferry operations exceed WHO noise guidelines
- Documented evidence that DfI is unwilling to upgrade aging infrastructure for environmental improvements
- Acknowledgment of localized air quality issues, particularly in foggy conditions
- Clear statement that nighttime operations are technically unsuitable according to noise surveys
- Financial Data
From DFI/2024-0366 and DFI/2024-0391:
- Current operational costs now £3.52 million annually (2023-24)
- This represents a 41% increase since 2016/17
- Demonstrates accelerating cost trajectory without service improvements
- Future costs likely to increase due to aging infrastructure
- Service Limitations
From SLC Comments Summary:
- 94% of survey respondents indicate current service is not fit for purpose
- New evidence of impact on emergency services access
- Growing commuter frustration with reliability and capacity
- Increased demand from tourism sector being constrained
- Political Context
Recent developments include:
- Construction of Narrow Water Bridge providing precedent for cross-lough infrastructure
- Climate Change Act (NI) 2022 requirements adding pressure for environmental improvements
- New transport strategies being developed through to 2035 (per DfI correspondence)
- Shared Island Initiative open to considering cross-border infrastructure projects
- Economic Impact
Recent data shows:
- Growing population in both Ards and North Down (163,659) and Newry, Mourne and Down (182,074) council areas
- Increased tourism potential along coastal routes
- Rising costs affecting business competitiveness
- Economic constraints from limited operating hours
This combination of new environmental evidence, escalating costs, service limitations, and supportive policy context makes 2025 a particularly opportune time to advance SLC proposals. The documented problems with the current ferry service, combined with broader infrastructure developments in Northern Ireland, provide strong justification for exploring alternative crossing options.
[Sources: DFI/2024-0391, DFI/2024-0366, SLC Comments Summary, Census Data 2021, Local Assessment of Need 2023]