Derry rail link and Altnagelvin Hospital secure major funding lift

The Derry-Belfast-Dublin rail infrastructure and the North-West Cancer Support Centre are two of the twelve projects which have secured funding under the Government's €377 million Shared Island investment package.

A total of €193 million has been allocated to the Derry-Belfast-Dublin rail infrastructure, while a €3.5 million contribution to Health Cooperation will be invested in North-West Cancer Support Centre; All-Island Paediatric Metabolic Network; and Perinatal and Paediatric Pathology service development (2027-30).

Welcoming the funding announcement made by Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Donegal Minister of State, Charlie McConalogue, said both cross border projects will be of great benefit to the people of Donegal and the North-West.

“The Government has committed a total of €193 million through the Shared Island Fund to boost rail connectivity between Derry, Belfast and Dublin by 2030, by increasing line speed, capacity and service resilience, in line with the All-Island Strategic Rail Review (AISRR) and the joint Rail Project Prioritisation Strategy (RPPS),” the Donegal Minister of State commented.

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“This work will be taken forward by the Minister for Transport, on a co-funding basis with aligned investment by the Department of Transport and the Northern Ireland Department for Infrastructure in both the Dublin-Belfast and Belfast-Derry lines. Complementing this investment, the two Departments will work with relevant agencies so that there is a 15-20 minute transfer time between the Dublin-Belfast and Belfast-Derry lines to enhance connectivity between and the three cities.

“The investment builds on a strong partnership approach between the Government and the Executive on planning and coordinated investment in rail infrastructure and services through the AISRR and RPPS and the €700 million Enterprise Fleet Replacement Programme which is in receipt of €165 million in PEACEPLUS funding,” he added.

“A €3.5 million allocation from the Shared Island Fund will support three cross-border health projects from 2027 to 2030, co-funded by the Department of Health. This investment will directly benefit Donegal patients by expanding cancer support and psychosocial services at the North-West Cancer Centre in Altnagelvin Hospital, Derry.

“The new support centre will be open on a walk-in basis to any patient from the South, coinciding with a new regional partnership agreement between HSE Donegal and the Western Health and Social Care Trust. The funding will also develop a closer-to-home all-island paediatric metabolic network and strengthen perinatal and paediatric pathology services,” Minister of State McConalogue added.

“The allocation of €377 million across twelve new initiatives marks a massive step forward for all-island development. This brings total Government investment from the Shared Island Fund past the €1 billion milestone, ensuring a more prosperous, sustainable, and interconnected future for everyone on this island,” the Donegal Minister of State said.