Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

130. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform when the Peace Plus Programme will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31324/22]

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

The PEACEPLUS cross-border EU programme is at a very advanced point of development and I look forward to its launch and to the first calls for funding applications later in 2022.

This new €1.1bn North South programme will carry on the work of the current INTERREG and PEACE programmes in support of shared peace and prosperity across an eligible area of Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland.

The development of PEACEPLUS has been led by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). SEUPB have finalised a draft programme which was approved by Government, by the Northern Ireland Executive and by the North South Ministerial Council in autumn 2021.

The draft programme was submitted to the European Commissision for final review and adoption in March 2022, in line with EU Regulatary requirements. Commission approval is anticipated in the coming weeks. Parallel to this, work is currently underway to finalise the Financing Agreement between the EU, UK and Ireland which will be required for PEACEPLUS.

It is anticipated that a formal launch event for PEACEPLUS will take place in autumn 2022. However, in advance of this, the EU, Ireland and the UK are all clear on the importance of funding reaching the ground as soon as possible.

With this in mind, the SEUPB have already commenced a programme of pre-development support for potential applicants to PEACEPLUS. Work is also underway to establish and convene a Programme Monitoring Committee for PEACEPLUS in order to approve programme rules as well as the first draft calls for applications.

This will help to ensure that PEACEPLUS can open at the earliest possible stage this autumn following European Commission approval and the completion of a Financing Agreement.