Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 March 2023
98. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the expected timeline for the roll-out of the PEACEPLUS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10464/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra105. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the proposed level of funding for the PEACEPLUS programme; the breakdown in funding to be provided by the Government, the European Union and the British Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10465/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 105 together.
I thank the Deputy for his questions and for his ongoing interest in the PEACEPLUS programme.
I am very pleased that this new cross-border EU programme is now on the cusp of opening. PEACEPLUS will succeed the outgoing INTERREG VA and PEACE IV EU programmes, supporting shared peace and prosperity across the programme area of Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland.
The PEACEPLUS programme was developed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), working closely with my Department and with the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. The development of the programme included an extensive public consultation process across the programme area. The draft programme was approved by Government, by the Northern Ireland Executive and by the North South Ministerial Council in October 2021. It was formally approved and adopted by the European Commission in July 2022.
The PEACEPLUS programme will be underpinned by a Financing Agreement between the EU, the UK and Ireland. A final text of this document is being prepared and Government approval for its signature will be sought very shortly. It is expected that the Financing Agreement will enter into force in time to allow for the first funding Calls for Application to issue under PEACEPLUS during Q2 2023. Further Calls for Applications will be rolled out over 2023 and 2024, and the SEUPB expect to make the first funding award in late 2023 or early 2024.
In terms of funding, PEACEPLUS will have a total budget of €1.145 billion. This is an unprecedented funding allocation – more than twice the combined value of the most recent INTERREG and PEACE programmes. The breakdown of this funding reflects the commitment in the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement that the EU and the UK would fund PEACEPLUS at the same proportions as the INTERREG and PEACE programmes. €916 million, or 80%, of the programme funding is ERDF, of which the European Union is providing over €234million and the UK Government over €681 million. The other 20% of the programme, €229 million, is known as match funding, and is comprised of €59 million from Irish Government Departments and €170m from the Northern Ireland Executive.
