Vol. 569 No. 4
104 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the work of his Department in the provision of funding for peace and reconciliation projects along the Border region; the progress made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [217838/03]
The Deputy will be aware that the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2000 – 2004 – Peace II – is a distinctive European Union Structural Fund programme aimed at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation. The measures involved have an important contribution to make to this long-term process and the distinctiveness of the programme is characterised by its two main objectives: addressing the legacy of the conflict; and taking opportunities arising from peace.
While this initiative is being delivered through five main priorities, my Department is involved in delivering three of them by managing measures aimed at: economic renewal; social integration, inclusion and reconciliation; and cross-Border co-operation. Key target groups of the programme include victims of violence, ex-prisoners, women, unemployed and under-employed people and other vulnerable groups such as Travellers and minority groups.
My Department, through Area Development Management Limited, ADM, and the Combat Poverty Agency, CPA, has overall responsibility for the implementation of ten measures of the Peace II programme in the Border regions of Ireland and two cross-Border measures in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Northern Ireland and Co-operation Ireland. These programmes have a budget of €97.6 million, of which €64 million, 65.8%, has, to date, been committed to projects under the measures involved. This figure includes over €30 million committed to cross-Border projects. A total of 700 applications were received, of which 368 have received funding approval. Some €13.4 million has been paid out by projects up to the end of March 2003. The provision to finance these measures in this Department's Vote for 2003 is €11.187 million.
In the context of cross-Border co-operation in agriculture and rural development, my Department is a joint implementing body with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland for priority 5 measure 6 (a) and 6(b) of the Peace II programme. The total public funding provision, North and South, for these measures over the lifetime of the programme 2000-04 is €7.351 million.
Grant aid of almost €1 million has been allocated to priority 5 measure 6(a) under a single project titled North-South Rural Voice. A letter of offer under this programme will issue in the near future. Under priority 5 measure 6 (b) of the Peace II programme support will be given for the development of non-traditional farm based enterprises in the eligible cross-Border area. Projects are at the second and final stage of the assessment process, that is – economic appraisal – following which letters of offer will issue to successful applicants. The provision in the Department's Vote to finance these measures for 2003 is €1.44 million.
