Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 July 2018
24. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has held discussions with the European Commission on the possible allocation of additional funding for the Border region in view of the particular challenges that will arise in that area following Brexit and the need to improve infrastructure to assist existing businesses remain competitive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28825/18]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the EU-funded cross-border programmes, PEACE and INTERREG, have been important drivers of regional development for the border region of Ireland and Northern Ireland for more than a quarter of a century. Through EU-funded cooperation, a range of Departments, agencies and organisations, North and South, have engaged in and benefitted from a variety of cross-border and cross-community projects.
The Government’s consistent position has been that it is committed to the successful implementation of the current PEACE and INTERREG programmes and to successor programmes post-2020.
In the two years that have elapsed since the UK referendum on EU membership, my officials and I have been working with the European Commission at all levels to ensure that this important source of funding for the border region continues post-Brexit. I have met Regional Policy Commissioner Corina Cretu to discuss the matter and I have invited her to visit the border region to see for herself the impact the programmes are having on the ground. I have also raised the matter at the General Affairs Council, meeting in Cohesion Policy formation, and my officials continue to work closely with their colleagues in the Commission.
I was pleased, therefore, that the Government’s ambition for the programmes was reflected in December’s EU-UK Joint Report on Brexit in which both parties undertook to honour their commitments to the PEACE and INTERREG programmes under the current Multiannual Financial Framework and to examine the possibilities for future support favourably. This was matched by a commitment from the Commission to propose the continuation of the programmes in its proposal for the next MFF covering the period 2021-2027.
This has now happened, and I warmly welcome the Commission’s recent proposal for a special new PEACE PLUS programme which will build on and continue the work of successive PEACE and INTERREG programmes. My officials and I will continue to work with the Commission on the development of this new programme to ensure that the challenges facing the border region are addressed.
