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Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys, has today (Thursday 17 August) encouraged eligible organisations in Northern Ireland and border counties of Ireland (Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo) to apply to the €75 million Re-imaging Communities investment area under the PEACEPLUS programme.
This investment area will support the creation of new builds, or alternatively the reimaging, regeneration or transformation of existing spaces, for shared usage. The new shared spaces will aim to bring together all communities, while having a transformative effect on the region, creating a lasting legacy within the communities they serve.
Speaking about the programme, Minister Humphreys said:
"I very much encourage eligible organisations to submit applications under the Re-Imaging Communities Investment Area of the new EU PEACEPLUS Programme, which has an allocation of €75 million.
"I am very pleased that my Department of Rural and Community Development will be partnering with the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland and the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in providing funding for this investment area under the programme.”
The Department of Rural and Community Development is providing funding to support projects under Investment Area 1.4 of the new PEACEPLUS programme: Reimaging Communities, which is 80% funded by the EU.
This area of the programme will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services, which will benefit and embed peace and reconciliation.
This will result in more people regularly accessing shared spaces for recreational purposes or to access services. These shared spaces are co-designed on a cross-community basis.
The Minister concluded:
"These shared spaces can come in many forms including land, buildings, infrastructure, parks and peace line interface barrier regeneration and so you need to consider, what are the current needs in your area that would have a long-term and lasting impact on everyone involved and benefit society as a whole.
"I wish all applicants every success in their endeavours. Please ensure that you avail of the essential guidance that is available to all potential applicants on the SEUPB’s website.”
The closing date for receipt of applications is 5pm on Thursday 7 September 2023.
Full details on who is eligible to apply and how to apply for funding under this investment area are available on the SEUPB website.
PEACEPLUS is a new EU Cohesion Policy cross-border cooperation programme. This €1.145 billion programme combines the previous PEACE and INTERREG cross-border EU funding strands into one cohesive new North-South programme for the 2021-27 period. PEACEPLUS covers an eligible area of Northern Ireland and Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo (although there is scope for activity to extend beyond that area).
Development and management of EU North South programmes is the responsibility of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), a North South Implementation Body established under the Good Friday Agreement. The SEUPB is headquartered in Belfast, with smaller offices in Omagh and Monaghan, and is jointly sponsored by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform in Ireland and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland.
Further information on the PEACEPLUS programme is at: PEACEPLUS Programme.