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| Republic unveils cash plan for NI | Republic unveils cash plan for NI |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| By Shane Harrison Dublin correspondent, BBC Northern Ireland | By Shane Harrison Dublin correspondent, BBC Northern Ireland |
| The Irish Republic is for the first time to spend money on Northern Ireland's infrastructure. | The Irish Republic is for the first time to spend money on Northern Ireland's infrastructure. |
| Bertie Ahern's goverment is to fund projects in Northern Ireland | Bertie Ahern's goverment is to fund projects in Northern Ireland |
| The Irish government's National Development Plan for 2007-2013 will be published later. | The Irish government's National Development Plan for 2007-2013 will be published later. |
| The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and his cabinet colleagues will be in Dublin Castle, the former seat of British power in Ireland, to announce details of their 180 billion euro infrastructure spending for the next six years. | The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, and his cabinet colleagues will be in Dublin Castle, the former seat of British power in Ireland, to announce details of their 180 billion euro infrastructure spending for the next six years. |
| They say it is nothing to do with the summer general election, but the opposition parties are far from convinced. | They say it is nothing to do with the summer general election, but the opposition parties are far from convinced. |
| And amid the splendour of the castle, the cash-rich Irish government will do something unprecedented - it will unveil some of its spending plans for the sovereign British territory of Northern Ireland. | And amid the splendour of the castle, the cash-rich Irish government will do something unprecedented - it will unveil some of its spending plans for the sovereign British territory of Northern Ireland. |
| About 1.2 billion euro of that 180 billion euro will head north - that is about £800m. | |
| The money will be invested in projects aimed at promoting closer ties between the two parts of Ireland and at underpinning the peace process by trying to boost the Northern Ireland economy. | The money will be invested in projects aimed at promoting closer ties between the two parts of Ireland and at underpinning the peace process by trying to boost the Northern Ireland economy. |
| It is believed some funds will go towards improving cross-border roads, particularly between Dublin and Londonderry. | It is believed some funds will go towards improving cross-border roads, particularly between Dublin and Londonderry. |
| The money will be invested in projects aimed at promoting closer ties between the two parts of Ireland and at underpinning the peace process by trying to boost the Northern Ireland economy | The money will be invested in projects aimed at promoting closer ties between the two parts of Ireland and at underpinning the peace process by trying to boost the Northern Ireland economy |
| It will also be spent on cross-border educational projects. | It will also be spent on cross-border educational projects. |
| Letterkenny IT, for example, is expected to develop ties with the University of Ulster's Magee College in Derry. | Letterkenny IT, for example, is expected to develop ties with the University of Ulster's Magee College in Derry. |
| It is believed that the Irish government may also be prepared to provide about £65m to restore the Ulster Canal so that it links Lough Neagh and Lough Erne. | It is believed that the Irish government may also be prepared to provide about £65m to restore the Ulster Canal so that it links Lough Neagh and Lough Erne. |
| Ministers believe the canal that passes through Counties Armagh, Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh could become a major tourist attraction rather like the Ballyconnell Canal that joins Lough Erne to the river Shannon. | Ministers believe the canal that passes through Counties Armagh, Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh could become a major tourist attraction rather like the Ballyconnell Canal that joins Lough Erne to the river Shannon. |
| Some of the funds are also expected to go hospitals in border areas. | Some of the funds are also expected to go hospitals in border areas. |
| The Irish government dismisses talk that its spending on Northern Ireland is an attempt to hollow out the union and create a united Ireland by stealth. | The Irish government dismisses talk that its spending on Northern Ireland is an attempt to hollow out the union and create a united Ireland by stealth. |
| The money, ministers say, will be spent on commonsense projects for the benefit of people on both sides of the border. | The money, ministers say, will be spent on commonsense projects for the benefit of people on both sides of the border. |
| Nevertheless, it's still a sign of the times. | Nevertheless, it's still a sign of the times. |
| And with the two governments working for the return of devolution to Northern Ireland in March, many believe the Irish government will continue to contribute to the economy north of the border. | And with the two governments working for the return of devolution to Northern Ireland in March, many believe the Irish government will continue to contribute to the economy north of the border. |