Brendan Smith presses for rapid rollout of €1.1bn Peace Plus
Brendan Smith urged that the Peace Plus programme be made operational as soon as possible and complimented the minister on securing 1.1 billion for the North-South programme. He stressed that community groups across the border region need certainty on the programme's rollout to continue work that benefits disadvantaged families.
Appeal for quick rollout
Brendan Smith reminded the House that he has repeatedly raised the need for the Peace Plus programme to be operational quickly. He praised the minister's role in securing 1.1 billion and said the funding must build on the work of the Peace and Interreg programmes.
Community reliance on funding
Smith described how Peace and Interreg investment delivered social and economic benefits to disadvantaged communities across the border region, citing his work with community groups throughout Cavanagh, Monaghan and with local statutory agencies. He warned many groups need continuity of funding to maintain programmes that support families and communities North and South.
Approval and financing status
The minister confirmed the programme was approved by the governments North and South in the autumn and was submitted to the European Commission in March. Work to finalise the financing agreement between the EU, Ireland and the UK is at an advanced stage, with all parties aiming to reach an agreed text in July.
Launch plans and preparatory support
The minister anticipated a formal launch of Peace Plus in the autumn pending European Commission approval, which is expected soon. Pre-application support is being organised by the special EU programmes body and local authorities in the north and border counties to ensure community groups are ready to apply when the programme opens.
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Minister, you will recall that I have raised with you in this House on many occasions and in correspondence the need to have the Peace Plus programme operational as soon as possible and I compliment you on your role in securing 1.1 billion for this North-South programme over the next number of years. We need to build on the good work of the Peace and Interreg programmes. Those programmes brought much needed investment in both social and economic terms to many disadvantaged communities in the Borda region and in Northern Ireland. I have been privileged over the years to work with many community groups, right throughout Cavanagh, Monaghan and statutory agencies locally, which have provided many worthwhile facilities and services arising from that particular investment and that has been replicated right throughout the northern half of our country. Could I say many of the groups need this funding to continue programmes that are bringing real benefits to different communities, many of them communities and families that have been disadvantaged over the years, both North and South. I have queries, Minister, from groups in my own constituency and North. Thank you, Minister, from outside our own jurisdiction as well, who are anxious to have some certainty in regard to the time frame for rolling out this very, very important programme where 1.1 billion will be invested in communities. Thank you, Ian Corlea. Thank you, Deputy Smith, for raising the issue of the Peace Plus programme and I want to acknowledge your consistent advocacy for this programme. It is a very exciting programme, as you say, of over 1.1 billion euro. It was approved by the governments North and South in the autumn of last year. It was submitted to the European Commission in March of this year. Work to finalise the financing agreement for Peace Plus between the EU, Ireland and the UK is now at an advanced stage and all parties are aiming to reach an agreed text in July. The formal launch of Peace Plus is anticipated for the autumn coming and we need to see the approval now by the European Commission of the Peace Plus programme. We are expecting that in the near future and hopefully all will be set for a launch in the autumn. A lot of advanced work is going on pre-application support is being put in place by the special EU programmes body and indeed the local authorities in the north and along the border counties to make sure that groups are ready to go with their applications. Thank you very much.
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