Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. As I said at the outset, the metrics are set out by parameters from places other than the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

I will finish where I was with regard to PEACEPLUS. The northern and western region is also able to avail of other supports. The new EU co-financed PEACEPLUS programme for 2021 to 2027 will invest in excess of €1.1 billion to build peace and prosperity in the counties that I mentioned. The Border counties in the north west have benefited greatly from predecessor programmes, and the Minister would like to encourage organisations in the area to engage with PEACEPLUS. The first calls for applications will open this summer. PEACEPLUS will provide funding both for larger strategic projects and smaller projects catering to community and other groups. In addition, the national development plan has supported and continues to support a range of projects in the north west, including enabling and main works on Sligo acute mental health services, the interim emergency department to facilitate service continuity, University Hospital Galway, the completed construction of 14 residential care homes, and a range of other projects across the region.

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