The Riverine Project is funded under the Shared Spaces and Services theme of the PEACE IV programme, the project is intended to create a shared community space between Lifford in County Donegal and Strabane in County Tyrone. A footbridge across the River Foyle would connect a community building and recreational parkland in Lifford with parkland in Strabane.
The project was issued with a letter of offer under the EU’s 2014-20 PEACE IV programme in July 2019. A project partnership led by Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council then collaborated to finalise detailed designs for the project in preparation for the submission of statutory approvals, including planning permissions and relevant licences.
It now appears likely that not all such required approvals will be in place in time to deliver the Riverine project as originally envisaged, in its entirety by the end of 2023. Under EU Structural Funds regulations, PEACE IV funding must be drawn down by 31 December 2023, and no funding can be provided under the programme beyond this date.
The Riverine project partnership continues to work closely with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), the cross-border North South Implementation Body responsible for the management of the PEACE IV programme, to assess what can be delivered within 2023.
Separately and in relation to the period after 2023, the Government successfully advocated for a successor programme for the 2021-27 programming period. The new programme, PEACE PLUS, will succeed the current PEACE IV and INTERREG VA programmes, with an investment of €1.145 billion – double the size of the 2014-20 programmes. The PEACE PLUS programme has been approved by the Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the North South Ministerial Council and the European Commission. The Financing Agreement which will underpin the programme is currently being finalised, to allow for programme opening in Q2 2023.
