Funding programme

PEACEPLUS is a new funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is the successor programme to both PEACE IV and INTERREG VA.

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Call overview

This call aims to create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services in rural areas.

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Call detail

The Rural Regeneration and Social Inclusion Programme will support social, economic and environmental projects which contribute to the creation of healthy communities in rural areas.  By adopting a strengths-based approach, the programme will contribute to the creation of a more balanced Programme Area, in which our rural communities thrive and reach their full potential through health and wellbeing focused solutions, while also tackling social isolation and promoting enhanced social inclusion, creating healthy and inclusive rural communities.

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Objective

This objective will create a more cohesive society through an increased provision of shared space and services in rural areas.

It will result in strategic investment designed to allow rural communities to thrive and reach their full economic, social and environmental potential.

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Funded actions

It is anticipated that the Programme will support the following types of actions:

• Collaborative community development initiatives and services, including those related to health and wellbeing
• Agricultural diversification support programmes
• Social enterprise support programmes

Read more details in the call document.

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Eligibility

• National, regional and local authorities;
• Regional and local development agencies,
• Universities, colleges, higher education, research institutions;
• Non-governmental organisations (NGOs, including sports and cultural bodies);
• Sectoral agencies and business support organisations;
• Voluntary sector organisations;
• Other relevant public-like organisations contributing to the development of the programme area;
• Private sector – specifically micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large companies.

The programme area for the PEACEPLUS Programme is:

• Northern Ireland;
• The border counties of Ireland (Counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan and Sligo).

This is the core programme area. The programme, however, has flexible geography beyond its administrative borders called a functional area. This allows for organisations and institutions not based in the core programme area to get involved in projects by linking with partners within the core area. The benefits of such collaborations must be significant for the core programme area.

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Budget

The total value of €50m million is available under this call. This consists of €40 million ERDF and UK ERDF equivalent funding and €10 million governmental match provided by the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Grants are available to cover 100% of the eligible costs of the project. Projects/Partners may wish to bring additional match funding into the project, applicants should seek further advice from SEUPB on this before the call closes.