The PEACE III Programme is aimed at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation. In total €333 million will be available over the next 7 years to assist Northern Ireland and the Border Region to focus on reconciling communities and contributing towards a shared society.
The Programme has two key Priorities with each Priority further subdivided into two Themes:
Priority One - Reconciling Communities
- Measure 1.1: Building Positive Relations at the Local Level
- Measure 1.2: Acknowledging the Past
Priority Two - Contributing to a Shared Society
- Measure 2.1: Creating Shared Public Spaces
- Measure 2.2: Key institutional capacities are developed for a shared society
Summary of Peace III information circulated for April Monitoring Committee Meeting
Priority 1 Theme 1.1 Building positive relations at the local level: €140 million
Under this theme the programme will support projects and activities that will facilitate
relationships on a cross- community and/or cross-border basis to assist in addressing issues of trust, prejudice and intolerance and in accepting commonalities and differences.
- Theme 1: Building Positive Relations at the Local Level (€100m)
Eight clusters have emerged in Northern Ireland, including Belfast as a single entity. All local authorities in Northern Ireland submitted action plans to SEUPB by 31 March. The deadline for local authorities in the Border Region is 13 May. Steering Committee meetings to approve Local Action Plans are scheduled for 13 May (Northern Ireland plans) and 24 June (Border Region plans). - Theme 1: Regional (€40 – 50m)
Twelve full applications and four Part A applications (the initial application which leads to the issue of a project reference number allowing the project to complete the full application) have been received to date. The two applications presented to the first 1.1 Steering Committee on 6 March 2008 were deferred pending additional information
Priority 1, Theme 2: Acknowledging and Dealing with the Past (€50m)
In January 2008 The Community Relations Council/Border Action (the Consortium) were issued with a contract to implement this theme. This theme has three strands:
Strand 1: Addressing the Past in Public Memory (indicative budget 10-20% of total) to be advertised by Public Tender
- Actions that explore the legacy and memory of the conflict through truth recovery, documentation, story telling and the recording of complex history and experience.
- Projects that contribute to the collection, development and exchanges of messages concerning different experiences of conflict and post conflict.
- The Consortium is currently identifying the relevant stakeholders and preparing the relevant criteria for the implementation of this strand through a focused call. It is expected that this call will open in May 2008.
Strand 2: Promoting Participation (indicative budget 40-50% of total)
- To provide advice, counselling and support services for victims, their relatives and those who care for them.
- To build the capacity of individuals to deal with the transition to peace and reconciliation and ensure victims and survivors are able to deal with the past
- It will build on the important work already undertaken in Peace I and Peace II in providing support to those most affected by the conflict. In particular, it will build on the experience of Peace II and complement the work of the new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors and the Victims and Survivors Forum. It is expected that successful projects will have the participation of responsible statutory bodies such as the Trauma Advisory Panels (TAPs) in Northern Ireland and the HSEs in the border counties, the OFMDFM Victims Unit, the Remembrance Commission and Departments.
- Further consultation will be undertaken by the Consortium regarding the implementation of this strand. SEUPB and the Consortium held a meeting with the Victims and Survivors Commission on 18 March. An outline of the Programme, together with the key issues and challenges, were discussed with particular reference to Theme 1.2 and the dovetailing of strategic Peace III actions/interventions with any future Victims Strategy.
Strand 3: Securing the Future (indicative budget 30-40% of total)
- Innovative actions that will help prevent an outbreak of violence into the future, by taking action to repair relationships and by engaging the wider community in peace-building and reconciliation work.
- Supporting schemes for future generations which seek to address and prevent the outbreak of violence along the lines of inherited and emerging divisions in society
- The Consortium opened the first call for Strand 3 on 14 April. Full applications are expected by the end of May. The consortium are currently establishing the Steering Committee for this theme. Over the coming weeks the Consortium is planning a series of road shows and publicity events in cooperation with SEUPB to take place in May and June 2008.
Priority 2, Theme 1: Creating Shared Space (€82m)
- 148 Expressions of Interest were received seeking a total of €750m.
- Sixteen full applications have been received by SEUPB to date.
- Five Part A applications have also been received.
- Four new applications are anticipated in the near future.
All applications have been progressed to or are in receipt of an independent Economic Appraisal, including 13 of which have been commissioned by SEUPB. An Economic Appraisal has also been commissioned on 1 pipeline project for which an application is anticipated. To date 12 applications have been presented to the Steering Committee, two of these were recommended for approval and both are currently with the Accountable Departments for consideration. Three applications have been deferred pending further information and seven applications rejected. The remaining full applications will be presented to the Steering Committee on 6 May. In addition, it is anticipated that the re-submitted versions of previously rejected and deferred applications may be available for consideration.
Priority 2, Theme 2: Key Institutional Capacities (£40m)
Following consultation with the Accountable Departments a call for applications has been opened by SEUPB on Monday 31 March. In keeping with the Operational Programme applications are sought under two main areas:
- Area 1: Pilot innovative service delivery models with the potential for mainstreaming.
- Area 2: European and international networking and exchange of best practice.
No date has yet been set for the Steering Committee for this Theme.
For more information on the Peace III programme contact NICVA on 028 9087 7777 or the Special EU Programmes Body on 028 9026 6660 or visit: www.seupb.eu
