Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister will recall that on many occasions in the House and in correspondence I have raise with him the need for the PEACEPLUS programme to be operational as soon as possible. I compliment him on his role in securing €1.1 billion for this North-South programme over the next number of years. We need to build on the good work of the PEACE and INTERREG programmes. These programmes brought much-needed investment, in both social and economic terms, to many disadvantaged communities in the Border region and Northern Ireland. Over the years, I have been privileged to work with many community groups throughout Cavan and Monaghan and statutory agencies locally, which have provided many worthwhile facilities and services arising from that investment. This has been replicated throughout the northern half of our country. Many of the groups need this funding in order to continue programmes that are bringing real benefits to different communities, many of which both North and South have been disadvantaged over the years. I have received queries from groups in my constituency and outside our jurisdiction that are anxious to have some certainty about the timeframe for rolling out this very important programme where €1.1 billion will be invested in communities.

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