Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

372. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the status of his Department's assessment of the impact Brexit will have on PEACE funds to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19067/16]

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

373. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the expected situation that will apply following the Brexit decision to already approved projects under the INTERREG VA and other European-funded or part-funded programmes; and the likely situation that will apply to applications already in the pipeline [19436/16]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

375. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provision he is making to ensure that European funding such as INTERREG is maintained on a cross-Border basis, post-Brexit, as all Border counties depend greatly on such funds for development, social inclusion and community development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19685/16]

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

376. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the provision he is making to ensure that European Union funding such as INTERREG is maintained on a cross-Border basis post the exit of the United Kingdom from the European Union, given that all Border counties depend greatly on such funds for development, social inclusion and community development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19740/16]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 373, 375 and 376 together.

Following the outcome of the UK Referendum on EU membership, the Irish Government has been clear that it remains committed to the successful implementation of the EU funded PEACE and INTERREG programmes.  The programmes are not only an important source of funding, but provide a visible demonstration of the European Union's continuing support for the process of peace building and reconciliation.  They have seen investment of more than €3 billion in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland over the last quarter of a century and have made a vital contribution to promoting greater economic and social cohesion.  Together they will see investment of more than half a billion euro in Northern Ireland and the border region of Ireland over the period 2014-2020, with 85% of that being contributed by the European Regional Development Fund.

Immediately following the referendum result , and in line with my Department's contingency arrangements, my officials made contact with the European Commission to underscore our commitment to the programmes and to discuss how they would continue to benefit from ERDF funding.  They have also spoken to colleagues in the Scottish and Welsh Governments, which are partners in our two INTERREG Programmes.  The issue was discussed with the Commission and with a range of stakeholders at an INTERREG Programme Monitoring Committee meeting in Glasgow last Wednesday (29 June 2016) and at the Plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council in Dublin on Monday (4 July 2016), and I will be meeting Northern Ireland Finance Minister Máirtín Ó Muilleoir at the SEUPB Sectoral meeting of the NSMC tomorrow (7 July 2016), when we will be able to consider the matter in detail.