From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, TD, this morning attended a Sectoral Meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Special EU Programmes Format. The meeting was held by video-conference, in compliance with current public health restrictions.
This was the first such NSMC Sectoral meeting in Special EU Programmes Format since 2016. The meeting was chaired by Northern Ireland Minister for Finance, Conor Murphy, MLA, who was accompanied by Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Peter Weir, MLA. The three Ministers took the opportunity to review progress across the North South cooperation area of Special EU Programmes, which is managed by the cross-border Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) .
The SEUPB’s CEO, Ms Gina McIntyre, updated the meeting on the ongoing work of the Body, including its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The SEUPB is responsible for the management of two 2014-20 North South EU programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA. The two programmes have combined funding of €553m, involving some 130 projects to support peace and reconciliation and foster social and economic prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
Ms McIntyre also updated Ministers on the development of the new 2021-27 PEACE PLUS North South EU programme. This work is being led by the SEUPB, in close cooperation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. PEACE PLUS will combine the existing PEACE and INTERREG strands into one new, cohesive cross-border programme. Development work on the new programme is now well advanced, and is being supported by the EU, the Irish Government, the Northern Ireland Executive and the UK Government.
The meeting also approved SEUPB business and corporate plans and noted Annual Reports and Accounts.
Speaking after the meeting, Minister McGrath said:
‘I was delighted to join Minister Murphy and Minister Weir for today’s NSMC Sectoral meeting.
It was very encouraging to hear about the ongoing positive impact of the PEACE IV and INTERREG VA North South EU programmes, across a wide range of cross-border projects. Notwithstanding the challenges of recent months, it is clear that these two programmes are continuing their vital contribution to peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. I would like to commend the staff of the SEUPB for their dedicated work during this difficult period.
I am also particularly pleased with the excellent development work on the 2021-27 PEACE PLUS programme, which is being led by the SEUPB in close cooperation with my Department, and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland. PEACE PLUS is shaping up to be a very ambitious and impactful programme, which will deliver vital cross-border investment in the context of the twin challenges of COVID-19 and Brexit. I was glad to have the opportunity to address the cross-sectoral stakeholders on the PEACE PLUS Programme Development Steering Group earlier this week, to convey my thanks and support for their work. I look forward to continuing to follow the development of PEACE PLUS over the months ahead.’
ENDS