Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 13 April 2017
23. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of the implementation of the PEACE IGV 2014 - 2020 programme; if the various programmes under the four specific objectives have commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18701/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has joint responsibility with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland for the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), which manages the EU-funded PEACE and INTERREG cross-border programmes. Together these programmes will see investment of more than half a billion euro in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland over the period 2014-2020.
The PEACE IV Programme was adopted by the European Commission on 30 November 2015 and formally launched on 22 January 2016. The Programme is co-funded by the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the European Union.
Along with match funding from the two Member States, the PEACE IV programme has a total value of €269 million. The focus of the PEACE IV programme is on social inclusion and combatting poverty, with investment in four key priority areas where it aims to make significant and lasting change, namely:
- Shared Education, with a total value €35.3 million;
- Children and Young People, with a total value €67.1 million;
- Shared Spaces and Services, with a total value €99.4 million; and
- Building Positive Relations, with a total value €51.7 million.
All of the funding calls for the PEACE IV programme have now been completed.
Currently a total of 19 projects have been approved across four Specific Programme Objectives. Sixteen of the approved projects are Local Authority Plans. Two projects have been approved in the area of shared education, while one focusing exclusively on victims and survivors has also been approved.
The total value of the projects approved to date is over €99 million. This represents a programme commitment level of 39%.
The Letters of Offer issuing to successful applicants includes a safeguard clause negotiated by my officials and their Northern Ireland counterparts to Brexit-proof projects to the greatest extent possible. This gives programme beneficiaries the confidence they need to proceed with the implementation of projects.
Further projects, with a total value of more than €367 million, are currently under assessment. Letters of Offer will continue to issue to successful applicants in the coming months. It is anticipated that the PEACE IV Programme will be fully committed by the summer of 2017.
