Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 28 together.

  PEACE IV supports peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland, promoting social and economic stability, particularly through actions which promote cohesion between communities.  It is co-funded by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. 

My Department is accountable and provides funding under three themes - shared spaces and services, building positive relations, and children and young People. My Department's primary role in developing projects is as an adviser on the PEACE IV steering committee, together with other relevant Departments in Ireland and Northern Ireland.  The steering committee which is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body as part of its overall management of PEACE IV considers and approves all funding applications.  Discussions between my Department and counterpart Departments in Northern Ireland take place primarily within the steering committee process, engaging directly on specific projects from time to time, when necessary.

The Government is committed to securing agreement on successor programmes post-2020 and continuing the deep cross-Border cooperation that is the hallmark of the current cross-Border programmes.  In that regard, I am pleased that both the European Union and the United Kingdom have committed to examining favourably support for the programmes post-2020.

My colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, has overall responsibility for the PEACE programme and engaging with the European Commission, including programme funding post-2020. However, I expect my Department to contribute strongly to the shape of any new programme as discussions progress.

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