€19 million in PEACEPLUS funding awarded to projects to strengthen cross-border collaboration across island of Ireland

The following nine projects have received funding:

C-CASE (Cross-Border Collaboration to Activate the Skills Ecosystem) – €3,368,334.04

Lead Partner: Belfast Metropolitan College 
Partners: Ulster University, Confederation of British Industry, Staffline, SOLAS.
C-CASE will create a structured dialogue platform to address cross-border skills and labour market challenges. It aims to build an inclusive skills ecosystem tackling shortages, mismatches, and mobility barriers across the island of Ireland.

PHKH (Public Health Knowledge Hub) – €2,424,025.41

Lead Partner: Institute of Public Health in Ireland 
Partners: Ulster University, Trinity College Dublin.
PHKH will establish an All-Island Public Health Knowledge Hub, harmonising data and enhancing public health research and policy. It will support evidence-based decision-making and coordinated health responses across the island.

North South ESTEEM – €2,337,529.22

Lead Partner: Atlantic Technological University 
Partners: Ulster University, North West Regional College, Centre for Cross Border Cooperation, Donegal ETB.
This project will simplify and strengthen cross-border education and employment mobility. It will provide resources and reform pathways to help learners and professionals navigate opportunities across jurisdictions.

Resilient Neighbours (RN) – €2,302,034.88 

Lead Partner: Fermanagh and Omagh District Council 
Partners: Monaghan County Council.
RN will enhance emergency preparedness and response across borders. Through training and collaboration among 20 agencies, it aims to reduce risks and improve civil contingency coordination for border communities.

TACTICS (Training Across Communities for Tactical Interoperability for Cross-Border Safety) – €2,051,959.53

Lead Partner: Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service 
Partners: National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, South West College, Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETB.
TACTICS will develop a cross-border fire and rescue interoperability framework. 
It will train personnel, accredit trainers, and strengthen mutual aid agreements to improve emergency response across the island of Ireland.

CO LAB (Collaborative Leadership Across the Border) – €1,804,291.42

Lead Partner: Centre for Effective Services 
Partners: Monaghan CYPSC & LCDC, Limerick City & County Council, The Executive Office, Department of the Taoiseach.
CO LAB will co-design a cross-border collaboration strategy to tackle social exclusion, poverty, and healthcare access. It will engage government departments in pilot actions and legacy planning.

CHANGE – €1,799,862.06
Lead Partner: Northern Ireland Environment Link
Partner: Irish Environmental Network.
CHANGE will build environmental resilience and governance by addressing regulatory divergence post-Brexit. It will improve data interoperability and co-develop solutions to shared ecological challenges.

InsightLink – €1,563,777.68

Lead Partner: Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA)
Partners: The Wheel, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations, National Council for Voluntary Organisations, Welsh Council for Voluntary Action.
InsightLink aims to build a sustainable, integrated infrastructure solution that empowers the cross-border Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) to engage more effectively in cross-border policy development and collaboration. The project will deliver systemic change by establishing a shared knowledge base, formal engagement structures and practical support mechanisms. More than 800 participants will be engaged in project activities.  

Border People FLOW – €1,374,244.20
Lead Partner: Centre for Cross Border Cooperation 
Partners: North Connacht & Ulster Citizens Information Service; Community Advice, Newry, Mourne & Down; Advice NI.

Prompted by legislative shifts affecting citizens who live and work on a cross-border basis, Border People FLOW aims to significantly amplify the strategic impact of the former Border People project. The objective is to take an inclusive all-island labour market forward, benefitting employees and employers alike and enabling public systems to respond to a fast-moving employment landscape. 

Finance Minister John O’Dowd MLA said: “I welcome this €19 million of PEACEPLUS funding, which represents a significant investment in our future.

“Strengthening cross-border cooperation not only ensures projects can deliver meaningful change, improve outcomes, and build a more resilient and inclusive society but reflects our commitment to supporting communities and driving economic growth.”

Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Jack Chambers TD said: “I am delighted to see this PEACEPLUS funding award of €19 million to projects that impact effective cross-border cooperation. These projects will work across both jurisdictions to build strategic capacity in vital areas such as skills, healthcare, and emergency preparedness and planning. Through this North-South collaboration, the projects will unlock potential and enhance cross-border engagement, bringing real benefits to citizens and communities across the island of Ireland.

“I congratulate the project partners and I wish them every success.”

Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “These nine projects demonstrate the importance of collaboration in key areas that will benefit citizens. From a fire and rescue cross-border framework to tackling social exclusion and poverty at current levels, these projects demonstrate how we can find cross-border solutions to challenges that exist on both sides of the border.”