Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome Mr. Colgan and his colleagues and compliment them on the work and success of the three PEACE programmes to date. As a representative of two southern Ulster counties, I am familiar with a number of worthwhile initiatives in those communities that have been funded by the programmes and INTERREG.

As representatives of the Border counties, we have been concerned about an issue since the early 1990s when the first PEACE programme was initiated, namely, the question of additionality. This funding stream, which is meant to be additional to the Border counties, is often used as a substitute for adequate central government funding. We must always watch this issue and be careful about it as regards this programme.

Mr. Colgan referred to an emphasis on education. At various meetings, the committee has dealt in detail with the lack of educational attainment in particular communities in the Six Counties. I have a concern about Mr. Colgan's remarks on progressing integrated or shared education. Driving these initiatives is the remit of education Departments. It is mainline government activity. I hope that the investment that is necessary to give young people in disadvantaged areas an opportunity to increase their levels of educational and skills attainment will not be left to a relatively small programme like this one. Otherwise, the Departments in Stormont and our State would be allowed to opt out of providing adequate funding to necessary programmes.

We are all influenced by where we come from and the projects with which we are familiar. The Cavan and Monaghan local authorities have been proactive in the PEACE partnership and have worked closely with other local authorities when delivering the programme in the North. In this clustering arrangement, local authorities take the lead in specific projects, even where those projects are introduced outside their own areas. This model has worked well and I hope that it can be continued under this programme.

Mr. Colgan mentioned Castle Saunderson in my county, the Skainos Centre in east Belfast and other projects. These are exceptionally good projects that would fall between all of the stools on which Mr. Colgan is depending for central government funding from any jurisdiction. I welcome these developments and hope that these types of initiative can continue under the new programme. However, I am concerned about this funding being a substitute instead of an addition. Given our consultations with the PEACE programme at local and central level, it is the programme's desire to ensure that funding is additional to central and local government funding.

Mr. Colgan might clarify his statement that the intervention rate will decrease to 15%. Will matching funding be provided by central government or must local promoters provide the 15%? I am unclear on that point.