5th June 2024:

The overall objective of the plan is to promote a greater sense of belonging, equality, inclusion and peace for people living in Leitrim by providing opportunities for enhanced contact and understanding between communities, access to training and skills and establishing spaces and platforms for collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing. There is a particular focus on increasing and sustaining meaningful engagement with people from minority ethnic communities and from different racial backgrounds.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock has welcomed the funding, saying “I welcome the announcement of PEACE funding for County Leitrim. Leitrim’s plan has been developed to foster better relationships and understanding between our communities and those of our neighbours across the border. There is an excellent variety of activities and opportunities for participants which will maintain and contribute to a prosperous and stable border region of Ireland and Northern Ireland.”

Chief Executive of Leitrim Council Joseph Gilhooly also welcomed the €3.3 million funding award and acknowledged the efforts it took to develop the Leitrim PEACEPLUS Action Plan, “There has been a significant amount of work done over the last 18 months to achieve this funding award and I would like to acknowledge the work of the members of Leitrim’s PEACEPLUS Partnership Committee and our PEACE Programme Coordinator Marian McGovern, and all those who contributed to the public consultation process.”

Director of Services with responsibility for the PEACEPLUS programme Mary Quinn said, “Much work has been achieved in Leitrim since the commencement of PEACE funding. The Leitrim PEACEPLUS Plan includes a very ambitious programme of activities including the development of five Shared Space capital projects which will enhance and benefit all in our local communities leaving a lasting legacy.”

PEACE Programme Coordinator Marian McGovern added, “I am delighted that our action plan has been approved. This funding will build on the peace and reconciliation work that has already taken place and provide support for new and innovative projects that will promote positive relations between all communities.”.

The PEACEPLUS Programme is a funding partnership between the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive and will be administered by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB). Match-funding for this element of the PEACEPLUS Programme has been provided by the Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in Ireland. 

Notes:

 The Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) is a North South Body with the statutory remit for managing EU funding programmes within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.

PEACEPLUS is a cross-border funding Programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The total value of PEACEPLUS is €1.14 billion.

PEACEPLUS is co-funded by the European Union, the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Government of Ireland, and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Has your organisation the capacity to deliver a community project?

Leitrim PEACEPLUS Action Plan has been formally approved by SEUPB (Special EU Programmes Body) and we are preparing to put a number of programmes out to tender on the public procurement platform eTenders

 Two Pre-Engagement Sessions are arranged for organisations who may be interested in delivering programmes. The Leitrim PEACEPLUS Coordinator will give a briefing on the programmes going out to tender in the morning 10.30 -12.30, followed by lunch and then a one-hour session on how to submit a tender on eTenders after lunch:

 Venue 1: Leitrim Development Company, Drumshanbo on 14th October Venue 2: W8 Centre, Manorhamilton on 15th October

 If you or a representative from your organisation are interested in tendering for delivery of a programme please contact peace@leitrimcoco.ie to register your interest

 The Leitrim PEACEPLUS Action Plan was developed after extensive consultation using a co-design process. The co-design and co-delivery of the plan will be overseen by Leitrim PEACEPLUS Partnership, which is made up of representatives from the Community & Voluntary Sector, public bodies and Leitrim County Council.

 The Action Plan has 16 projects across three themes. The programmes being tendered fall under the themes:

· Thriving and Peaceful Communities

· Celebrating Cultural Diversity.

The overall objective of the plan is to promote a greater sense of belonging, equality, inclusion and peace for people living in Leitrim by providing opportunities for enhanced contact and understanding between communities, access to training and skills and establishing spaces and platforms for collaborative learning and knowledge-sharing. There is a particular focus on increasing and sustaining meaningful engagement with people from minority ethnic communities and from different racial backgrounds.