Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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38. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Re-imaging Communities investment area under the PEACEPLUS programme. [49557/23]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The PEACEPLUS Programme 2021-2027, with a value of over €1.145m, is a new North South cooperation programme, which will have a lasting impact on peace and prosperity in the region, succeeding both of the current (2014-20) PEACE IV and INTERREG VA Programmes.

The core programme area includes Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, namely Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth.

My Department is an Accountable Department for eight of the twenty-two Investment Areas, including the Re-imaging Communities Investment Area, and has worked with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), who manage the programme and relevant Northern Ireland Departments, on guidance documents, calls for applications and pre-application support workshops.

The European Commission approved the content of the PEACEPLUS Programme and the finance agreement came into force on 14^thJune 2023. On the 15^thJune, the SEUPB launched a number of Calls for Applications under various investment areas, including Investment Area 1.4 Re-imaging Communities, which has an indicative value of €75m to support ten projects. The closing date for receipt of applications in respect of this thematic area by the SEUPB was the 7^thSeptember 2023. It is understood that a large number of applications has been received, with the call hugely over-subscribed.

The SEUPB have completed the basic admissibility checks on all applications received under this investment area and are currently completing pre-requisite checks. The SEUPB will then undertake an Essential Quality Criteria Assessment on all applications. It is therefore envisaged that approval of applications by the Programme Steering Committee, which includes representation from my Department, will occur in Quarter 2 2024.