The moneys made available in my Department's Vote to finance the Government's commitments to the Good Friday Agreement and cross-Border funding relate to the special EU programmes body and the programmes administered by it. The body was established in December 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement. Funds have been provided in this year's Vote to meet the planned requirements of the different programmes, subheads N1 and N2, and the planned costs of administering the body itself subhead N3. The body manages both the PEACE II programme and the INTERREG IIIA programme.
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.