Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 November 2013
301. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform following on the recent conclusion of the multi-annual financial framework in the European Parliament, the level of funding that will be provided by the Government towards the Peace IV programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50807/13]
View answerOn 20 November the European Parliament in Strasbourg agreed proposals for a new round of Structural Funds. The agreement reached will see Ireland’s share of Structural Funds increase to just over €1 billion which will be used to support a range of projects to promote jobs and growth. Political agreement on four of the six regulations approved by the European Parliament had been reached under the Irish Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
The next round of Structural Funds will include a special allocation of €150 million for a new cross-border PEACE programme. In addition the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has announced, in the context of the Building a Prosperous and United Community Pact, an additional €50m UK funding for PEACE IV.
The total funding for the Programmes will be decided as part of the Programme planning process. The SEUPB continues to develop the Operational Programme for the PEACE IV Programme in close consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland.
The EU-funded PEACE Programmes have made an important contribution to supporting peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Irish border region and I am glad that support for this valuable work will continue in the 2014-2020 period.
