16/09/2003

Community projects to receive £27m Peace II funding

The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland (CFNI) has awarded £27 million in PEACE II funding awards it has been announced.

Speaking on behalf of the Finance Minister, Ian Pearson at the CFNI’s launch on Monday, the Second Permanent Secretary of the Department of Finance & Personnel, Dr Andrew McCormick, said the award was great news for Northern Ireland.

“It will help local people in local communities to benefit directly from the PEACE II Programme and through this to make their own contribution to peace and reconciliation. Much has been said about the problems with the PEACE II Programme but this announcement shows that it is much needed, can work and can make a difference.”

At yesterday's event in Belfast, CFNI launched their publication, ‘Taking Calculated Risks for Peace II’, which reflects their experience in implementing the PEACE Programmes over the last eight years.

Commending CFNI on their initiative in producing the publication, Dr McCormick added: “The 'Taking Calculated Risks for PEACE II' is a very detailed response reflecting both CFNI’s experience of the PEACE I Programme and their experience so far of PEACE II. It is a valuable contribution to the mid-term evaluation of PEACE II.”

The EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland is a distinctive European Union Structural Funds Programme running from 2000 to 2004, aimed at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation.

(MB)

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