Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Smith for the question and for his leadership and advocacy. The Deputy is right. The projects, facilities and amenities in his area in particular are bringing huge, profound and important change. I thank the Deputy for being cochair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

The PEACEPLUS programme, which runs until 2029, has a total value of €1.1 billion and funds projects across Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is cofunded by the Irish Government, the European Commission, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The project is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.

Our Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, is committed to providing 26% cofunding for eight of the 22 investment areas. This represents a total of €96 million in financing over the lifetime of the programme, with a net contribution, post recoupment of ERDF amounts, of €19.2 million. Grants are awarded by the Special EU Programmes Body following an agreed assessment process. As of 24 September, 108 projects with a total value of €947 million have been approved for funding, representing around 88% of the programme value.

PEACEPLUS provides funding across a diverse range of investment areas, including revitalisation of rural areas and community development. This funding will benefit people right across the programme area and there are multiple opportunities to benefit from the programme, which are available to all groups and organisations. All information is available online, as Members know.

I would also like to make a point about the change-maker funding element of PEACEPLUS, which will provide grants of between €10,000 and €100,000 to cross-Border or community projects. This funding programme is currently open. Information is available on the PEACEPLUS website under current funding opportunities.

Like the Minister, Deputy Calleary, I welcome the announcement regarding the Cavan regional sports project, which, as the Deputy said earlier, will provide a great facility to Cavan and the wider cross-Border region. Both the Minister, Deputy Calleary and I, look forward to travelling to Deputy Smith in Cavan. We might get to that match yet; you never know.

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