Rory O'Hanlon
Question:44 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the major flagship projects which have been approved to date under the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. [23450/96]
Written Answers. - Peace and Reconciliation Programme.
The Deputy appears to have a misconception of the rationale underlying the Special EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. The primary focus of the programme is centred on activities which are intended to increase the social inclusion of marginalised groups and so promote reconciliation. As has been pointed out repeatedly in this House in relation to similar questions in the past, the special task force set up by the Commission to consult local interests in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland reported back to the effect that the major emphasis should be on measures which supported social inclusion. This necessarily involves actions dealing with the most marginalised groups. This emphasis is not served particularly well by major flagship projects.
The Deputy will be interested to learn that the Department of the Environment is investing a total of nearly £7 million under the programme in two projects involving significant upgrading of cross-Border infrastructural linkages which support the emphasis of the programme. These projects involve restoration of the N3 links serving the Border crossing at Aghalane Bridge and the N16 route connecting Sligo to Enniskillen. The Minister for Finance, in the Dáil on 5 November 1996, circulated details of project approvals made by the intermediary funding bodies charged with the implementation of various measures of the programme. Should the Deputy wish to obtain further information in relation to any specific project he should take the matter up with the body concerned.