Nationalists welcome planned NDP spending in North

Nationalist politicians have welcomed the news that 7% of the €180bn spending in the Government's new National Development Plan will be spent north of the border.

Details of the plan are due to be announced later today.

The spending in the North represents the first time that infrastructure projects north of the border have been funded by taxpayers in the Republic.

It is expected to include funding for a range of economic, education, health and road schemes in northern counties.

Sinn Féin MP Pat Doherty has described the move as an "historic milestone", while the SDLP says it will help fuse the two economies on either side of the border and boost areas of commercial inactivity.

The two main unionist parties have yet to comment on the matter.