March 13, 2026 — Cork, Ireland — Sir Keir Starmer announces Irish investment of £937m for UK, set to create about 850 jobs across London, Doncaster, South Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, as announced by UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer ahead of the UK-Ireland summit here.[1]
This £937 million investment from Ireland into the UK targets key areas like London, Doncaster, South Wales, and Scotland, boosting economic ties and development in these regions.[1] The announcement underscores strengthened bilateral relations post-Brexit, with Starmer highlighting growth, energy, and security cooperation.
Investment Breakdown
Sir Keir Starmer announces Irish investment of £937m for UK during a business roundtable in Cork, where Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin welcomed him at the airport. Key commitments include £170 million from Gas Networks Ireland for energy projects, £45 million from Amach for AI and cloud-computing in aviation creating 150 jobs, £3 million from Focus Capital Partners, and over £1 million from Cork-based Ayrton Group to expand its London team.[1] [2]
Additional projects feature an energy connector between Northern Ireland and Ireland to lower electricity costs, and another between Wales and Ireland powering 570,000 homes. Local reporting emphasizes job opportunities in Doncaster.[3]
Official Statements
“The UK’s close friendship with Ireland is going from strength to strength and I am pleased that we are going further in working together on growth, energy, security and more. This new Irish investment coming into the UK is one part of a much bigger picture of our flourishing cultural, commercial and security ties.”
— Sir Keir Starmer
“UK and Ireland have a ‘very strong bilateral relationship’ and ‘one of the most important trading relationships and growing all of the time.'”
— Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin
Starmer described cooperation as “more important now than it has ever been,” amid global tensions.[6]
Summit Context
The investments precede the UK-Ireland summit in Cork, following last year’s event in Liverpool, aimed at resetting relations. Starmer met Northern Ireland leaders beforehand, pledging aid for energy costs, including £81 million in funding and a £30 annual electricity reduction for households.[1] [5]
Sir Keir Starmer announces Irish investment of £937m for UK as part of broader cultural initiatives, such as national libraries collaboration.[7] Coverage on X by BBC News NI garnered over 10,000 views.[8]
This £937 million investment from Ireland into the UK targets key areas like London, Doncaster, South Wales, and Scotland, boosting economic ties and development in these regions, aligning with Celtic connections explored at Celtic Congress Cornwall.