Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Apr 2003

Vol. 564 No. 5

Written Answers - EU Funding.

Martin Ferris

Question:

124 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the most recent figures available on the number of applications which have been made for funding under the PEACE II programme; the number which have been successful; if he will provide a breakdown of the type of schemes which have been successful; the average amount of grant awarded, and the average length of time taken to process an application. [9877/03]

Martin Ferris

Question:

125 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Finance if he will provide a breakdown of the type of projects which have received funding under the Peace and Reconciliation Programme, that is, the proportion which were private businesses, and the proportion which were community groups. [9880/03]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.

The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland, PEACE II is a unique EU funding programme for all of Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland – Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan, and Sligo. PEACE II aims to help Northern Ireland become a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland. The programme runs from 2000 to 2004 and will provide around €707 million for projects of which €141 million will be spent in the Border region.

The PEACE 11 programme has five main themes or priorities. They are: economic renewal; social integration, inclusion and reconciliation; locally based regeneration and development strategies; outward and forward looking region and cross-Border co-operation.

The following tables gives details as at 4 April 2003 for PEACE II, both in Northern Ireland and in the Border region of Ireland. The first table shows, for the five priorities listed, the number of applications received, number of applications approved and the average amount of grant awarded. The second table shows, again for the five priorities, the types of organisations who have been successful. The total in this second table does not exactly match the total of approved projects in the first table as organisations can record more than one category of sector and this leads in some cases to double counting.

Priority	No ofApplications	Approved	In Process	Rejected	Other	Total ValueApproved	AverageValue forGrant
Economic Renewal	986	212	259	441	74	97,366,841.44	459,277.55
Social Integration, Inclusion and Reconciliation	2,198	637	637	754	170	75,098,941.61	117,894.73
Locally-based Regeneration and Development Strategies	863	208	395	233	27	21,157,720.73	101,719.81
Outward and Forward Looking Region	176	28	114	31	3	19,784,010.25	706,571.79
Cross-Border co-operation	389	152	119	79	39	36,977,704.46	243,274.37
Total	4,612	1,237	1,524	1,538	313	250,385,218.48	202,413.27

Priority	Charity	LimitedCompany	Voluntary	Co-Operative	Sole Trader	Other
Economic Renewal	43	65	41	2	1	109
Social Integration, Inclusion and Reconciliation	204	91	249	1	1	226
Locally-based Regeneration and Development Strategies	69	95	83	2	1	67
Outward and Forward Looking Region	3	13	1	0	1	16
Cross-Border Co-operation	9	31	5	0	1	135
Total	328	295	379	5	5	553

The average time for processing of applications varies between organisations from approximately four to 12 months.