Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is a recognition of that fact and the points the Deputy has raised that drove my Department to move to deal with the maintenance of PEACE and INTERREG funding on the day following the Brexit referendum. I have discussed that with the Deputy previously. We know that funding plays a vital role in supporting projects in his community, and on both sides of the Border, that have contributed to the economic progress to which he refers, and also the social and political stability, especially in the North. We moved to address that. As the Deputy is aware, funding is now in place up to 2020. I recall that Deputy Brendan Smith made the point to me that 2020 can come very quickly. We are already working with other countries that participate in the INTERREG and PEACE funding and I will respond to a question on the issue later this afternoon. We are beginning to work to get a replacement for those funding streams. Deputy Smith recognised the competing demands on me. I will do what I can with the resources available to me to give a very high level of priority to the regional dimension of the consequences of Brexit because I well understand the issue the Deputy raised.

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