A bridge linking North and South at the site of the Warrenpoint massacre in Co Down, which resulted in the deaths of 18 British soldiers in 1979, is to be developed as part of initiatives under the National Development Plan.
It is understood that a total of more than €2 billion will be spent on the North/South element of the plan, which sets out key areas of co-operation across a range of areas including infrastructure provision, education, health and enterprise promotion.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern revealed yesterday €14 million would be earmarked to build a bridge at Narrow Water, linking south Co Down and north Co Louth. "This is a significant location from a political point of view given the history there," said Mr Ahern.
On August 27th, 1979 an IRA ambush resulted in the British army's greatest loss of life in any single incident during the Troubles. A 500kg bomb hidden in a lorry loaded with hay and parked close to Narrow Water Castle was detonated as an army convoy drove past. The explosion killed six members of the parachute regiment.
Twenty minutes later a second device exploded close to the gate lodge on the opposite side of the road, killing 12 soldiers. Narrow Water happened on the same day as the assassination of Louis Mountbatten, an uncle of Queen Elizabeth, by an IRA unit in Sligo.
Mr Ahern said yesterday key priorities for joint investment initiatives would provide improved access for tourism and other opportunities along the eastern corridor, including links between Co Louth and Co Down.
He said the development of Narrow Water Bridge would be an important element of that proposal and said the project was discussed in Dublin yesterday morning with an SDLP delegation.
Other priorities for new joint projects also include the completion by 2013 of high-quality roads linking Dublin, Belfast and Derry/Letterkenny and the restoration of the Ulster Canal, a project that is expected to cost an estimated €100 million.
The NDP also envisages closer co-operation on infrastructure development including the City of Derry Airport, the completion of the single electricity market by November 2007, a new North/South electricity interconnector and a South/North gas pipeline.
The Government is also proposing new all-island competitive funds to support education, skills, science and innovation, energy research, regional development, tourism development, social inclusion and community infrastructure.
The Government is already investing over €1 billion in North/South projects and it is understood a further €1 billion-plus will be spent under the plan.
SDLP South Down MLA PJ Bradley welcomed the news that the Government had earmarked €14 million for the project.
"This marks a victory in a long and hard campaign by the SDLP to link the kingdom of Mourne with the Cooley peninsula. For centuries the people of Rostrevor, Warrenpoint and the Mournes had to look across at their almost next-door neighbours but remain a people apart. This bridge is a symbol of the SDLP's wish to unite the people of this island and break down the barriers of a Border which has kept us apart for too long."