Minister Chambers welcomes the progress of the €1.1 billion PEACEPLUS programme

The Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers, has updated the government on the progress made on the cross-border 2021-2027 PEACEPLUS programme.

To date, PEACEPLUS has committed funding in the region of €700 million to projects supporting peace and prosperity in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. With a total value of €1.1 billion, PEACEPLUS is funded in partnership

by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Minister Chambers acknowledged the progress of PEACEPLUS, saying:

“I am very pleased to see the continued implementation of the €1.1 billion PEACEPLUS programme, which is supporting peace and prosperity in the north and the border regions. Since its launch in 2023, the PEACEPLUS programme has awarded funding to transformative projects in areas such as health, transport, education, and socio-economic regeneration.

“I recognise the commitment of the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) in developing and implementing the PEACEPLUS programme. Established under the Good Friday Agreement, the SEUPB has been managing successive EU cross-border cooperation programmes since the 1990s.

“The innovative projects funded under PEACEPLUS will deliver economic growth, community cohesion and cross-border collaboration.

“PEACEPLUS is a clear signal of the continued commitment of the EU, Ireland and the UK to ongoing North South cooperation and peace and reconciliation.”

Notes

The cross-border PEACEPLUS Programme runs from 2021-2027 and has a value of €1.145 billion. Building on the work of previous cross-border PEACE and INTERREG programmes, PEACEPLUS funds projects supporting peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

PEACEPLUS is managed and implemented by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), a North South Implementation Body established under the Good Friday Agreement and operating under the political direction of the North South Ministerial Council. The SEUPB is a body under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation in Ireland and the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland.

The PEACEPLUS programme area covers Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo).

Projects awarded funding under PEACEPLUS include:

• modern new trains for the cross-border Enterprise rail service at a value of €165 million, connecting communities and supporting sustainable travel
• the Shannonside Peace Arena, awarded €15.3 million for the development of a sustainable shared space with sports hall and gym in Carrick-on-Shannon
• the €16.7 million Riverine project, that will transform 30 acres between Lifford in Donegal and Strabane in Tyrone into a biodiverse shared parkland connected by a cross-border footbridge
• the Ulster University Dome in Derry, awarded €10.86 million to convert a vacant site into an inclusive shared space that will be a year-round indoor arena for sporting and community events, with capacity for thousands of spectators
• the €20 million GEMINI project, that will develop a joint approach to renewable technology and geothermal energy on a cross-border basis for the first time on the island
• the €32 million WEST water quality project, which will enhance and improve water catchments in Lough Erne, Lough Melvin, and Donegal Bay

PEACEPLUS is funded in partnership by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Further details on PEACEPLUS and current funding opportunities are available at: PEACEPLUS Programme - SEUPB.