Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 March 2022
279. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the administrative arrangements in place for the roll-out of the PEACEPLUS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14727/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department, along with Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, has Member State responsibility for the 2021-2027 PEACE PLUS programme.
As with the current INTERREG VA and PEACE IV EU programmes, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) will be the Managing Authority for PEACE PLUS. The SEUPB is a North South Implementation Body under the joint sponsorship of my Department and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. As Managing Authority, the SEUPB will be responsible for organising the application process; assessing applications; managing payments and claims; and monitoring and reporting, as well as supporting the Programme Monitoring Committee.
The delivery of the new programme will be overseen by a Programme Monitoring Committee, a governance structure which is required by EU Regulations. The Programme Monitoring Committee will include northern and southern representatives from both central and local government, business, trade unions, the community and voluntary sector as well as environmental, rural, equality, youth and health sector organisations. Officials from my Department, as well as from the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland, will serve as Member State representatives on the Programme Monitoring Committee.
PEACE PLUS will be implemented via individual projects, which will be awarded funding on foot of thematic Calls for Application issued by the SEUPB. The selection of projects will be the responsibility of a Steering Committee, appointed by the Programme Monitoring Committee. The Steering Committee will include representatives of the programme Member States as well as of relevant sectoral Departments in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
