Vol. 544 No. 4
189 Mr. B. Smith asked the Minister for Finance when it is expected that the new peace programme will become operational; if application forms are available for the various schemes; the total funding allocated for this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29264/01]
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that steady progress has been made in the past few months to enable the programme to become fully operational. A series of information meetings have already been held across the six Border counties and agencies appointed to deliver the programmes are finalising their application processes. Application forms are available for several elements of the programme with some elements due to be opened for applications later this year or early in 2002. Project selection for those elements of the programme for which applications have been invited is under way. I understand that grant offers will be made to successful project promoters from mid-December onwards.
The programme is being managed by the Special EU Programmes Body, one of six North-South Implementation Bodies established by the Good Friday Agreement and is being implemented in the Border region by a range of delivery agencies. These agencies are ADM-CPA, a joint venture comprising Area Development Management Limited and the Combat Poverty Agency, which will implement economic development and social inclusion measures, six county council-led task forces working under the aegis of the Department of the Environment and Local Government to deliver aspects of the programme focusing on locally based regeneration strategies, the Special EU Programmes Body itself and the Departments of Education and Science, Marine and Natural Resources, and Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and a consortium consisting of ADM, CPA, the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust, and Co-operation Ireland, in relation to cross-Border co-operative activities.
Including matching national funds, 141.3 million – £111.3 million – has been allocated to the Border region under the Peace and Reconciliation Programme, 2000-04. The EU contribution to the programme in the Border region is 106 million – £83.5 million.
