To ask the Minister for Communities what work is being undertaken by her Department to ensure opportunities arising from PEACE PLUS funding can be accessed.

My Department, along with other the government departments, both North and South, have been working closely with the Special European Programmes Body (SEUPB), the Managing Authority for PEACEPLUS, on the content and implementation of the new programme.

This is particularly reflected in Theme 1 (Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities) Investment Areas 1.2, Empowering Communities (€30m) and 1.4 Reimaging Communities (€75m) for which the Department for Communities will be an Accountable Department.

In July 2023 the Department participated in a hybrid pre-application workshop for Investment Area 1.4 which provided advice, guidance, and practical support in relation to preparing an application. The event attracted over 400 attendees either in person or on-line. The call for applications to Investment Area 1.4 closed in September 2023.

Pre-application support for Investment Area 1.2, Empowering Communities, will also be undertaken prior to the opening of the call for applications later in 2024.

Whilst there is specific action being taken in relation to the PEACEPLUS Programme it should be set within the context of the ongoing work that my Department takes to incentivise, support and enhance community empowerment through an innovative and sustainable community and voluntary sector.