Residents, community and voluntary organisations are being invited to help formulate Donegal’s PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan, with workshops beginning this week.
Donegal County Council is delighted to have been awarded an indicative allocation of over €7.6 million, Under Theme 1 Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities Investment Area 1.1 PEACEPLUS Co-designed Local Community PEACE Action Plan. This Investment Area is financed through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of the European Union with match-funding provided from the Executive Office NI and the Department for Rural and Community Development Ireland.
The Three thematic themes that have been selected upon which to design and develop the content of Donegal’s PEACEPLUS Action Plan are as follows:
- Local community regeneration and transformation
- Thriving and peaceful communities
- Building Respect for All Cultural Identities
A Launch event to mark the beginning of Donegal’s PEACEPLUS local community engagement Process was held on Tuesday 21st of February 2023 in County House Lifford. In attendance were representatives of the Council including, Chief Executive John G Mc Laughlin, Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council Cllr Liam Blaney, Chairperson of Donegal’s PEACEPLUS Partnership Cllr Paul Canning, Director of Community Development & Planning Services Liam Ward, members of Donegal’s PEACEPLUS Partnership, other key stakeholders included the Local Community Development Committee members and representatives from voluntary & community groupings.
Speaking at the launch, Cathaoirleach Cllr. Liam Blaney said: “This allocation for PEACEPLUS represents just the latest instalment of funding from the EU through the PEACE Programme. Once PEACEPLUS concludes in 2027, that will be a 32-year commitment from Europe to building peace and reconciliation on this island and within this county through the PEACE Programme”.
“I am delighted that we are here today to announce the commencement of the co-designed local engagement stakeholder process, which will allow our communities to reflect their needs and priorities which will form the basis for the development of Donegal’s PEACEPLUS Action Plan.”
Outlining the significance of the PEACEPLUS Programme, Chief Executive of Donegal County Council John G Mc Laughlin, welcomed the Council’s indicative allocation of over €7.6 million, Under Theme 1 Building Peaceful and Thriving Communities, an increase of 37% on the PEACE IV allocation. He said “In an era of uncertainty, both at home and on a wider global scale, the promotion of peace and reconciliation is increasingly vital and the Council has demonstrated significant leadership in building positive relations and will continue working collaboratively with all of our stakeholders under this PEACEPLUS programme on a cross-community.”
Cllr. Paul Canning, Chair of the PEACEPLUS Partnership encouraged all residents, community, social and voluntary organisations to engage in the PEACEPLUS public consultation process by attending a series of workshops across each Municipal District, and completing an online PEACEPLUS Public Engagement Survey, which is available on the Council’s website.
He concluded by stating “We look forward to further liaising with our funders SEUPB, our PEACEPLUS Partnership , members of Donegal County Council’s Peace Team and local community county wide, to ensure collectively that we can maximise the impact of the PEACEPLUS 2022-2027 Programme for Donegal, and deliver priority projects and initiatives, that will work towards sustainably building economic prosperity, mutual respect, and equality within the county under the three thematic themes.
As part of the first stage of the public consultation process Donegal County Council invites the public to come along to initial workshops that will take place in each Municipal District detailed below.
Monday 27th February 2023
- Donegal Public Service Centre, 10:30am-12.00pm
- Dungloe Public Service Centre, 2.00pm-3.30pm
- Letterkenny Public Service Centre, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Tuesday 28th February 2023
- The Base Enterprise Centre, Stranorlar 2.00pm-3.30pm
- Carndonagh Public Service Centre, 6:00pm-7.30pm
It is also intended to hold a number of online workshops as detailed below:
(zoom issued by Emailing: PEACE@donegalcoco.ie)
Online Wednesday 1st March 2023
- Online Meeting from 6.00pm to 7.30pm
Online Monday 6th March 2023
- Online Meeting from 6.00pm to 7.30pm
You can also get involved by completing an online survey which is now available on our website, to allow you to have your say or share your views on the development of Donegal’s Local PEACEPLUS Action Plan. This ensures that it reflects the needs and aspirations of individual citizens, local businesses, community and voluntary organisations and other key stakeholders within the county.
Link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PEACEsurvey-SIOCHAINsuirbhe
Donegal County Council (donegalcoco.ie)
It will take no longer than 10 minutes to complete.
Further consultation sessions will be held March-April 2023. See the Council’s website for updates: https://www.donegalcoco.ie/community/peaceplus/
Donegal County Council wishes to thank all those who contribute to this consultation Process, and that your input is invaluable to the development of the PEACEPLUS Action Plan for Donegal.
For further information:
- Visit Donegal County Council website www.donegalcoco.ie/community/peaceplus/
- Visit PEACEPLUS Programme | SEUPB
- Email: PEACE@donegalcoco.ie or Tel: 07491 53900 for further information.
