Declan Breathnach (Louth, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will no doubt be aware of the importance of INTERREG IVA and PEACE funding to the Border region, in the current round of which in excess of €550 million is available, with a potential sum of €1.6 billion being available into the future. The matter being raised in this Topical Issue debate is probably the first major hurdle we have to cross in the context of Brexit. It is important that we get this right and secure the money being provided by the European Union, the Northern Exchequer and in the South for the continued development of projects and programmes post-Brexit. Up to July this year, 17 projects with a total value of €120 million had been approved for funding, but letters of offer have not yet issued. At a meeting earlier this week of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir, indicated that he had signed off on the matter but that there was a log-jam elsewhere. In a response I received on 16 September to a parliamentary question the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, indicated that he was dealing with the issue. However, it has come to my knowledge that the delay centres on two major issues from a Southern perspective: the insertion in the letters of an offer of a break clause for two years to coincide with the possible timing of a Brexit and an assurance from all partners that EU rules and regulations will be followed for the duration of the projects, irrespective of when the United Kingdom leaves the European Union. This is to avoid any potential claw-back of funding. Local authorities, communities and those involved in the 17 projects are waiting for this money. If we do not get it right, there is no doubt in my mind that the additional moneys due to come down the track will not be forthcoming. This presents a huge challenge.

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