UUP quiz government over Peace II funding

Ulster Unionist Deputy Leader Roy Beggs has put pressure on the government to ensure that Northern Ireland will not face "economic crisis" when Peace II funding is brought to an end.

Speaking at Westminster during a Northern Ireland Grand Committee debate on the Budget, Mr Beggs urged NIO Minister Ian Pearson to give the people of Northern Ireland "some comfort about the future of Peace II funding" - as the funding had helped "to build better relationships and growing stability".

The East Antrim MP added: “We expect that, some time in the not too distant future, there will be an announcement from Brussels, and probably from Stormont, that the Peace II funding monies will be extended. However, we would appreciate it if the government has given consideration to what will happen beyond the duration of Peace II funding, because there is concern about how projects and community groups can be funded after the period in which we expect to have such funding.”

Responding, Mr Pearson said: “Work is advanced on an extension to the Peace II programme. Both the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have written to the Commission. On June 18, the European Council called for the Commission to examine the possibility of extending the Peace II programme for a further two years. We are optimistic that an extension until the end of 2006 will come about.”

(GB)