FINE GAEL TD Joe McHugh will call for closer co-operation between the UK and Ireland when he addresses the Conservative Party conference in Manchester today.

Donegal deputy McHugh said public services in Border counties should be pooled between the two governments, adding that this would help to cut costs as both countries struggle to implement austerity measures.

He said many services were unnecessarily duplicated and it “makes sense” for Northern Ireland and the Republic to “share services”. McHugh, who is co-chairman of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly, will urge Conservative politicians to examine the issue this morning.

The British Government and the Stormont Executive should also work with the Irish Government to cut out the waste and duplication at a North-South level on this island. There is a huge amount of unnecessary duplication on this island. At a time of financial crisis it makes sense for Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to pool resources and to share services.

He added “major health and road projects” in the Border area are already being jointly funded by the two governments.