Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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353. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide an update on any ministerial level meetings held since the Fresh Start Agreement with regard to the north west development funds; the total allocation of finance towards the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19664/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The November 2015 Fresh Start Agreement contained a commitment by Government and the Northern Ireland Executive to support the regional development work of the North West Gateway Initiative which involves Donegal County Council and Derry City and Strabane District Council.

As part of that support, the Government committed to provide €2.5 million funding towards a North West Development Fund to assist the work of the two local Council authorities which is to be complemented by matching funding from the Northern Ireland Executive.

My officials are in regular contact with their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Executive Office and with the Councils in the North West, to help advance the new cross-border structures which the Councils have established and to develop the necessary governance arrangements for the Development Fund.

It is intended that the Fund will help support the cross-border strategic plan developed by the two Councils in the North West. On my visit in May to Derry and Donegal, I met with the Chief Executives of the two Councils and was briefed on their plans for the Fund to help support projects and measures to assist development and Community well-being in the North West Region.

At yesterday’s North South Ministerial Council Plenary meeting, Ministers received an update on progress in the North West, including on the Fund. Ministers also agreed to look for a suitable date to meet in the North West to discuss with the Councils their new framework structures for the North West Gateway.