Council secures €5.6m to deliver a PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan for District

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council is proud to announce that it has secured €5,671,195 to implement a PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan aimed at promoting positive relations between people from diverse backgrounds and communities.
The Local Action Plan is a project supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
The Fermanagh and Omagh PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan, developed through a collaborative co-design process with the local community and voluntary sector, will unite communities, form new connections, and celebrate cultural diversity. The programme will consist of 13 projects across three key themes: ‘Local Community Regeneration and Transformation,’ ‘Building Thriving and Peaceful Communities,’ and ‘Celebrating Cultures and Diversity.’
Junior Minister Aisling Reilly said:
“I am delighted to welcome the launch of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council’s PEACEPLUS Action Plan. The wide range of projects being delivered will make a real and lasting difference to people’s lives.
“This programme represents our shared commitment to building a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous future for everyone.
“I commend everyone involved in developing this plan for their commitment to peacebuilding and transforming local communities, and I look forward to witnessing the positive impact it will have across the region.”
Junior Minister Pam Cameron said:
“These projects offer a unique opportunity to strengthen community ties, promote inclusion, and build on the progress made across so many communities here.
“Once again, it reflects what can be achieved when people rally around a common goal. I congratulate everyone involved in this programme and look forward to seeing the positive impact these innovative projects have on everyone living in the Fermanagh and Omagh area.”
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD, commented:
“I would like to express my gratitude to all of the participants in the creation of the PEACEPLUS Co-Designed Local Action Plan for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council. The European Union’s PEACEPLUS programme has approved funding for this initiative totalling more than €5.671 million.
I applaud the PEACEPLUS Partnership, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council for developing and carrying out this action plan. The 13 regional community relations projects that this plan funds, in my opinion, will contribute significantly to the long-term peacebuilding of Fermanagh and Omagh as well as the border region. They will also create lasting, purposeful, and meaningful connections with people from various social, cultural and political backgrounds.
I am delighted that my Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, together with the Special EU Programmes Body and the Executive Office in Northern Ireland, will provide support for this outstanding Action Plan. In the long-term, the area will benefit from its successful implementation”.
Gina McIntyre CEO SEUPB said:
“I wish to congratulate Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, their partners and all of those who took part in the consultation process on their Co-Designed Local Community PEACEPLUS Action Plan which will have a transformative impact by addressing specific needs throughout the area.
“All local authorities within Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland have been allocated a PEACEPLUS budget to undertake a programme of targeted investment to address local challenges within their areas, working in conjunction with residents and organisations.
“This approach ensures plans are targeted at grassroots level, addressing a range of issues including regeneration, promoting positive relations, and championing diversity.”
Over the coming months, information and engagement workshops will be held across the district. These events will provide an opportunity for residents to learn more about the range of opportunities available through the programme and how they can get involved.
Chair of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor John McClaughry, spoke at the launch event, expressing his enthusiasm for the programme:
“The Council is delighted to have secured €5.6m funding from the PEACEPLUS Programme to lead on peacebuilding initiatives across the district. This funding will create exciting opportunities to bring people together from a range of community backgrounds,” he said. “The PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan, developed after extensive consultation with local communities, will invest in projects that address the specific social, economic, and environmental needs of the Fermanagh and Omagh District.”
The projects will align with the outcomes of the Fermanagh and Omagh 2030 Community Plan, which focuses on fostering a healthy, inclusive, and resilient community, with particular emphasis on supporting the wellbeing of young people, older people, and families.
Councillor McClaughry also highlighted the capital investment under Theme 1: ‘Local Community Regeneration and Transformation,’ which will fund the creation of two outdoor youth urban spaces, improvements to 11 community-owned spaces, and upgrades to playparks across the district.”
Looking forward, Councillor Allan Rainey MBE, Chair of the PEACEPLUS Partnership, emphasised the significance of the co-designed approach:
“Each of the 13 projects will have direct relevance and impact at a local level where it is needed most, supporting cross-community and cross-border interaction. These projects will span various activities, including health, wellbeing, youth engagement, music, arts, culture, heritage, skills development, language support, and biodiversity.”
Councillor Rainey added, “The PEACEPLUS Partnership is confident that these projects will empower communities, increase their capacity for development, and make a lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation long after the funding ends.”
For more information about the PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan or to register your interest in attending an engagement event, please contact the PEACEPLUS Coordinator, at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council on 0300 303 1777 (local rate) or via email at peace@fermanaghomagh.com.