Taoiseach to launch one billion euro EU funding for North

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is set make a major EU funding announcement for the North.

Mr Varadkar will be in Belfast today (Monday), where he will announce €1.14 billion in funding through PEACEPLUS.

PEACEPLUS is a new EU programme aimed at building reconciliation and greater prosperity across the North and the border counties of Ireland.

The Taoiseach will be joined by Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, European Commission Vice President Maros Šefčovič, a representative of the British Government, and the head of the North's Civil Service Dr Jayne Brady.

Mr Varadkar is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Commissioner Šefčovič to discuss the EU’s commitment to peace and reconciliation in the North, as well as the state of play on the implementation of the Windsor Framework.  

He will also have a bilateral with the British Government representative in order to underline the importance the Irish Government attaches to the restoration of the power-sharing institutions and to the British-Irish partnership, as well as the Government’s concerns relating to the British Government’s Legacy Bill.

 The Taoiseach will also engage with Northern Ireland business during the visit.