From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
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Meeting signals first SEUPB meeting since October 2020
Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform Paschal Donohoe TD today hosted the Special EU Programmes Sectoral Meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Dublin, attended by the Northern Ireland Minister for Finance, Dr Caoimhe Archibald MLA and Junior Minister at the Executive Office, Pam Cameron MLA.
Today’s meeting was the first NSMC meeting in this format since October 2020 and the first since the restoration of the Executive in February.
The meeting discussed the work of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) which is managing the rollout of the €1.1 billion cross border PEACEPLUS programme as well as the closure of the predecessor programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA. The Ministers received detailed programme updates from the SEUPB Chief Executive, Gina McIntyre, and were briefed on one of the new PEACEPLUS projects, Ignite Communities, by Roger Warnock, Chief Executive of Young Social Innovators. They also approved a number of corporate matters including the SEUPB’s Business Plan and Budget for 2024 and an increase in staffing to support SEUPB in delivering the PEACEPLUS programme.
Minister Donohoe said:
“I am very pleased to host this North South Ministerial Council today, and to have the opportunity to discuss the important work of the Special EU Programmes Body with Minister Archibald and Minister Cameron. The EU co-funded North South Cooperation programmes have been supporting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland for more than twenty five years, with a total investment to date of €3.3 billion.”
"The PEACEPLUS programme is a new chapter for North South programmes, with funding of €1.1 billion, supported by a funding partnership of the European Union, the UK Government, the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. As joint sponsor Minister for the Special EU Programmes Body, I look forward to working closely with Minister Archibald to support the SEUPB as they rollout PEACEPLUS over the coming years.”
ENDS