Debate contribution: North/South Ministerial Council: Special EU Programmes

Debate contribution by Mr John O'Dowd on 16 February 2026.

MLA

Mr John O'Dowd

Party at the time

Sinn Féin

Date

16 February 2026

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Ministerial Statement

Heading

North/South Ministerial Council: Special EU Programmes

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 5391070

Read the official Assembly record

Text

In compliance with section 52 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, I wish to make the following statement on the twenty-fourth meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in special EU programmes sectoral format, which was held at Monaghan Peace Campus on 23 January 2026. As Minister of Finance, I represented the Executive and was accompanied by Minister Givan. The Irish Government were represented by Minister Jack Chambers TD, who is responsible for the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation. The statement has been agreed with Minister Givan, and I make it on behalf of us both. The Council offered condolences to the family, friends and work colleagues of Mr Paul Beattie, the Special EU Programmes Body’s (SEUPB) managing authority director, following his sudden passing on 13 September 2025. The NSMC received a report from the Special EU Programmes Body chief executive on the closure of the 2014-2020 PEACE IV and INTERREG Va programmes. Ministers noted that all EU expenditure targets to date have been met, and both programmes are currently forecast to achieve full expenditure in line with total programme allocations. The Council was also updated by the Special EU Programmes Body chief executive on the progress of the 2021-27 PEACE PLUS programme. The Council was advised that calls have opened for all 22 of the programme's investment areas and that, in total, 145 projects have been approved for funding. That represents a commitment of €1 billion, 94% of the programme value. Additional steering committees will be held throughout this year to allocate further funding. Ministers noted that the body had produced a business plan for 2026 and a corporate plan outlining its key objectives for 2026-28. The Council approved the corporate and business plans, with the latter including the 2026 budget provision. The Council noted that the 2024 SEUPB annual accounts are currently under review by the Comptrollers and Auditors General in both jurisdictions. Ministers welcomed the commitment made on a successor to the current PEACE PLUS programme and noted that further engagement will need to be undertaken on the details of that programme. The Council welcomed the presentations made on the Shankill Shared Women’s Centre and congratulated the project on its work. The project was awarded funding of €8·58 million from the Peace IV programme and received a prestigious EU REGIOSTARS award in Brussels in October 2025. The award category was "A Europe Closer to the Citizens", with the award recognising the centre's work in fostering community cohesion and delivering support for women and their families in a shared space. The Council agreed to hold its next special EU programmes meeting in May 2026.

That was not discussed as part of the programme, because, unfortunately, as a result of Brexit, the funding that used to come directly from Europe was lost. The British Government then replaced it with less funding, as the Member will recall, and there has been a further reduction in funding this year. You can draw a straight line from Brexit to the implications of what is happening now as a result of that decision. I do not have the full details in front of me on the coming financial year, but I am happy to provide that to the Member in writing.

The change maker funding investment areas 1.2 and 6.2 are currently open for calls on a rolling basis. The change maker fund provides small grants of up to €100,000 and focuses on activities that advance community cohesion and bring communities and groups together on a cross-community basis. Further funding calls are anticipated to open in the first half of this year for SME development and transition, strategic planning and engagement and empowering communities. All information on current funding calls is available on the SEUPB website.

I am aware of no specific reason why there has been a delay. As I said in my statement, they are with the Comptrollers and Auditors General in both jurisdictions, and it will be up to them to set the schedule as to when they will sign off on them and when those further steps will take place.

Both Governments and the EU have agreed in principle that there will be a successor to PEACE PLUS, and we await further details on that. Everybody is hopeful that there will be a continuation of the PEACE PLUS programme. It has been successful across the island in bringing communities together and ensuring that the peace embeds and people see real change as a result of it. As I say, both Governments and the EU have agreed to that in principle, but we await further detail.

I will give some examples. A total of 154,000 children and over 500 schools participated in shared education schemes, and over 2,700 teachers were trained in delivering shared education. Over 23,000 children and young people developed their soft skills in respect of diversity, and 1,617 marginalised and disadvantaged young people developed their soft skills in respect of diversity. Some 24 new shared spaces were made available, and I mentioned some examples in my statement: Shankill Shared Women's Centre; Black Mountain Shared Space project; Waterside Shared Village; Connecting Pomeroy; the Bushmills Courthouse shared space; and Newforge shared space. It has made a huge contribution to this society.

Engagement and discussions with the two Governments are ongoing, and we will use that opportunity, when possible, to emphasise the importance of a future PEACE PLUS programme. The fact that the two Governments and the EU have agreed to that in principle is a sign of the collective will across the institutions for that to succeed, but we will have to continue the engagement on that.

It was not discussed. It would not be normal practice for us to discuss individual planning applications or proposals in that manner. The purpose of the NSMC sectoral meetings is to engage on policy and practice, including highlighting the successes of previous programmes etc. If those who are behind the proposal to which the Member refers believe that it is worthy of EU funding and PEACE PLUS funding, and that it fits the criteria of the PEACE PLUS programme, they should first contact the SEUPB and submit a bid.

1,032 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 14:53 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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