Ms Pamela Arthurs:

I have been working for over 20 years in cross-Border co-operation. We can want to do various things along the Border and demonstrate the need for same but if central Government can work with us that endorses the work we are doing. We also know then that Government recognises that work. We have outlined the disadvantages for the Border area, North and South. We are working to put meat on the bones in terms of what needs to be done. As I said earlier, the Taoiseach's office and the Northern Ireland Executive have asked us to set out our requirements. It is important we can move forward together to develop the Border corridor. We have key asks and priorities in respect of which we need Government to support us. For example, earlier we mentioned the €600 million for the PEACE PLUS programme. We would like to see that money, and a large part of the INTERREG funding, focused on the Border area. We are grateful for the current INTERREG programme under which we are financially managing eight large strategic projects. However, I think this programme is very centralised. We are about local delivery that suits the needs of local people along the Border. The two member states can influence that programme to ensure it delivers on the identified needs of the Border corridor. We would like funding from this programme ring-fenced for the Border corridor. The EU definition of a border region is any region within 250 miles of a border. We can demonstrate that the areas closest to the Border are the most deprived and have the most need. Therefore, we suggest that these areas should receive a chunk of cross-Border economic development funding to assist them. The cross-Border organisations that work on a daily basis in these areas should also be supported. We need central Government to recognise and value the work we are doing and to put its money where its mouth is by supporting us. These programmes require buy-in from Northern Ireland as well. That is what would make a difference to us moving forward. The PEACE programme is there to be consulted on. We have taken part in consultations in the past and we have sometimes wondered if anybody listened. It is key that the areas that are most deprived and most in need of funding benefit from cross-Border moneys.