Next round of PEACE funding must have community input at its heart – de Brún

2 March, 2006

Sinn Féin MEP Bairbre de Brún will this evening travel to South Down to meet with community activists for discussions on the next round of PEACE funding for the six counties and border region and said that she wanted to ‘encourage communities to participate in debate around their hopes for the anticipated PEACE III programme.

This evening’s event will take place in Duke Bar, Duke Street, Warrenpoint, County Down at 7.30pm and follows on from last week’s successful community event in South Belfast. The event will be chaired by Sinn Féin MLA Caitriona Ruane.

Speaking today Ms de Brún said:

“This evening’s event is about engaging with the local community about how such funding should be targeted in the period 2007 – 2013. We will be asking community activists to inform us of their hopes and concerns for
the roll-out of a PEACE III and to discuss the way forward.

“It is essential that local communities begin to participate in discussion regarding the PEACE III fund and Sinn Féin is keen to facilitate this debate. In discussions with the EU Commissioner for Regional Development,
Danuta Hubner, and with both the British and Irish governments, I pressed the point that communities must be fully consulted and kept fully informed. The practical planning for PEACE III must not take place behind
closed doors.

“Sinn Féin believes that future PEACE III projects should be targeted towards tackling discrimination and disadvantage and the promotion of peace and national reconciliation. I look forward to my visit to South Down this evening to discuss these and other matters with those present.”
ENDS