Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their statements. I know this is an extremely important issue for them. Deputy Breathnach referred to the UK's proposed shared prosperity fund. The UK is considering such a fund on the basis that it will leave the European Union and will no longer receive Structural Funds. Ireland has no intention of leaving the EU and would be foolish to even consider doing so. Clearly, we will not establish a fund to replace EU Structural Funds given that we will continue to receive those funds. We need to ensure not only that PEACE and INTERREG funding continues to the end of the 2020 programme, in accordance with the clear commitment given by the Irish and UK Governments and the EU, but also that PEACE+ is developed alongside the current programmes. What is significant is that the funding is not just maintained but actually increased.

There is also work we can continue to do at home. The north west strategic growth partnership involves Donegal County Council working together with local authorities in Derry and Strabane. They have memorandums of understanding and are drawing down their own funding streams. There is also a memorandum of understanding between Louth County Council and local authorities in Newry, Mourne and Armagh. Those memorandums of understanding and the co-operation between the councils mean they are open to apply for this kind of funding as well. As I said, not only must these funding streams be maintained but they must be enhanced, developed and increased in the years ahead. It is a matter of making sure the structures we have in place already are developed and strengthened.

I do not doubt for one moment what the Deputies are seeking to do in raising this matter. However, we have a clear structure in place. We have a body in place with a good team working to make sure this funding goes where it needs to go. In a post-Brexit world, what we need to ensure is that the PEACE and INTERREG programmes focuses on the communities that may be specifically impacted and provide support where it is needed. We are also working on agriculture which, as Deputy Smith outlined, is already being impacted by Brexit and not only in Border communities. For this reason, the Government in the past three budgets allocated more than €750 million in specific direct payments for the farming community, whether that is dairy, beef, horticulture or otherwise.

I again thank the Deputies for raising this issue. It is an absolute priority for us to make sure Border communities are not impacted. The Tánaiste, the Taoiseach and I want to work with the Deputies to make sure that is the case in future.

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