PEACEPLUS is a new European Union funding programme designed to support peace and prosperity across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, building upon the work of the previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes. The overall objective of the PEACEPLUS Programme is to build Peace and Prosperity and ensure that the Programme will leave a lasting and tangible legacy across Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland. The Programme’s strategy is to continue to take the opportunities and address the needs arising from the peace process in order to boost economic growth, and stimulate social and economic regeneration and secondly, to promote social inclusion, particularly for those at the margins of economic and social life. If you need information on the wider PEACEPLUS Programme managed by SEUPB, please see their website where detailed information is available: https://www.seupb.eu/
PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan
The proposed PEACEPLUS Action Plan for Monaghan aims to engage local communities in the development, implementation and participation in cross community activities under three thematic strands:
1. Local Community Regeneration and Transformation
2. Thriving and Peaceful Communities
3. Celebrating Cultures and Diversity
This investment seeks to engage a total of 4,573 participants through the following programmes, under these Themes:
Community Regeneration and Transformation
- A 1.1 – Enhancement to Existing Community Spaces and Halls programme.
- A 1.2 – Capital Youth Programme.
- A 1.3 – Women’s Hub
- A 1.4 – Community Garden
Thriving and Peaceful Communities
- A 2.1 – Peace Youth Programme
- A 2.2 – Environment for all
- A 2.3 – Community Health & Well Being
- A 2.4 – Capacity Building and Community Development Programme
- A 2.5 – Intergenerational Programme
Celebrating Cultures and Diversity
- A 3.1 – Explore Our Heritage through Music, Dance and Language
- A 3.2 – Who Do You Think You Are?
- A 3.3 – Multi-cultural events / Festival Programme
The programme has been developed following an extensive programme of community engagement and co-design, identifying key challenges and cross community needs within the County.
Under Theme 1 Investment Area 1.1 Co-designed Local Community PEACEPLUS Action Plans €110m has been allocated, of which Monaghan County Council has been awarded an allocation of €4,573,046.00. The PEACEPLUS Local Action Plan provides the scope to incorporate projects which will span across a range of different sectors and activities including:
- Enhancement programme to facilitate the upgrade and enhanced cross community use of existing community spaces / halls
- Development of youth facilities for cross community youth activity
- Development of facilities for women
- Development of a community garden
- Peace focused youth programme engaging young people on a cross community basis
- Capacity building and volunteer development programme, building community capacity for engagement on a cross community basis
- Connecting communities through wellbeing, environmental and intergenerational initiatives
- Exploring Our Heritage through music, dance and language and multi-cultural events, increasing understanding and respect for shared perspectives of heritage
- Exploration of community demographics through genealogy
Actions within the localised plan will span the range of social, environmental and economic interventions. These programmes will also increase social inclusion and promote civil leadership and make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation. The PEACEPLUS Action Plans will be implemented through models based on proactive local community engagement and collaboration.
Monaghan’s PEACEPLUS Partnership
The Council established a cross-community partnership to guide Action Plan development and to manage its implementation, ensuring representation from a wide variety of stakeholders & interest groups. The Council used the discussion document on the establishment of the partnerships prepared by Blu Zebra consortium, on behalf of SEUPB, to guide partnership formation. In establishing the Monaghan PEACEPLUS Partnership the following issues were taken into consideration from the guidance issued by SEUPB:
- Representation on the partnership to be balanced & inclusive of appropriate skills (including expertise & interest in peace building, good relations and reconciliation, project planning, community engagement), and community interests and needs are represented. Ensuring effective communication on the establishment of the PEACEPLUS Partnership.
- Best practice governance procedures. Ensuring the partnership is an appropriate size to be effective & efficient.
- Development a Partnership Agreement to ensure equality of contribution from all members. The number of members on the Partnership were agreed by council. Elected member allocation process should aim to ensure a balance across political parties.
The Partnership, is representative of communities across the district and includes Elected Members, Statutory representatives and Social Partners.
Pillar 1, Elected Representatives appointed by at the annual council meeting to ensure representation of all municipal district and striving for a gender balance where possible.
Pillar 2, Public Bodies Statutory Representatives secured by direct invitation to all state agencies represented within the County seeking nominations.
Pillar 3, Social and Community Partners sought via expressions of interest from the Public Participation Network (PPN), requesting individuals to be nominated by the organisation they represent.
Elected Representatives
Cllr. Richard Truell | Cllr. Seamus Treanor | Cllr. Raymond Aughey |
Cllr. Paul Gibbons | Cllr. Niamh McCooey |
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Public Bodies
Inspector Colm McNally An Garda Síochána Monaghan | Collette Deeney Tusla Ireland – CYPSC | Maureen McIntyre Cavan Monaghan Education Training Board |
Gareth McMahon Monaghan County Council Chairperson |
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Social and Community Partners
Francis McCarron Monaghan Integrated Development (MID) | Martina Beattie Scotshouse Community Childcare | Angela Graham Clones Family Resource Centre |
Denise McCormilla Monaghan PPN | Ursula McKenna Womens Co-operative (formerly Dochas) | Olga Reilly Peace Link |
Dick Bourke Carrickmacross Tidy Towns Committee | Alan McCabe River Blackwater Catchment Trust | Fiona McCaffrey Jones Truagh Spirit Social Enterprise |
PEACEPLUS Public Consultation Process
Consultation for the Plan
Monaghan County Council coordinated a consultation process with the wider community to develop a PEACEPLUS Local Community Action Plan for Monaghan. The Plan, informed by a local community engagement process, enabled and empowered communities to assist in the development of priority projects and programmes for Monaghan under the PEACEPLUS Programme, which will result in shared and inclusive local services, facilities and spaces; and make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation.
Phase 1:
Initial consultation and Engagement
- Many interested groups engaged in face-to-face consultations.
- Numerous project concepts/ideas emerged across the three themes. A project Assessment Sub-Committee comprising members of the PEACEPLUS Partnership met to shortlist these concepts/ideas to move into Phase 2 of the process for Themes 2 and 3.
- A short list of potential capital projects under Theme 1 were identified and groups were invited to complete an Expression of Interest form on their capital project, aligned to the PEACEPLUS selection criteria.
Phase 2:
Working Groups
- The four engaged partners participated in targeted Working Group sessions in 2023 to develop projects under Themes 2 & 3 and identify potential delivery models.
Phase 3:
Co-Design Meetings
- Monaghan County Council Culture Team aligned projects under Theme 3.
The Consultation Process is now complete. Over 600 individuals engaged in both on-line survey (504 respondents) and in-person consultation and co-design sessions (85 at stage 1 and 23 at stage 2) and confirmed the need for the range and extent of shared space initiatives and effective programming which would engage the whole community regardless of background. Of 504 individuals who responded to a public survey in 2023, 68.4% were from a Catholic background and 14.3% were from a Protestant Background, which is representative of the wider population within the Council area (2016 census indicates 85.3% Catholic and 7% Protestant – Church of Ireland 3.1% and Presbyterian 3.9%).
Community co-design sessions were held in each District Electoral Area and virtually, ensuring access to individuals of all backgrounds. The sessions attracted participation from people of both Protestant and Catholic backgrounds, with participants known to include representatives of PUL communities, women’s groups, youth groups and faith organisations. Dedicated sessions were also undertaken with key stakeholder groups including Youth, Women’s Assembly and Monaghan Integrated Development (minority ethnic representatives).
Monaghan County Council wishes to thank all those who contributed, your input was invaluable in the development of the PEACEPLUS Action Plan for Monaghan.
Monaghan County Council PEACEPLUS Local Co-Designed Action Plan Individual Project Brief Overview
The objective of the PEACEPLUS Plan for Monaghan, has resulted in the co-design of 29 innovative priority initiatives that enables sustained cross community integration and collaboration that will result in improved, shared, and inclusive local services, facilities, and spaces, and that make a significant and lasting contribution to peace and reconciliation.
The Action Plan aims to engage a total of 4,573 participants in cross community activities over its lifespan, thereby redressing the legacy of conflict and pattern of silent segregation which persists within our communities. Through engagement with Action Plan activities participants will be facilitated in developing new relationships on a cross-community basis, increase understanding, respect and acceptance of cultural and religious diversity, experience increased social inclusion and become more empowered in engaging with community development activities. The proposed PEACEPLUS Action Plan aims to engage local communities in the development, implementation and participation in cross community activities under three thematic strands:
- Community Regeneration and Transformation (21 infrastructure investments countywide)
- Thriving and Peaceful Communities (5 countywide programmes)
- Celebrating Cultures & Diversity (3 countywide programmes)
Theme 1: Community Regeneration & Transformation
Theme 1: Community Regeneration & Transformation
- Funding Allocated: €1,011,985.45
- Aim is to transform, re-image, develop new or enhanced areas within a community including existing buildings, outdoor spaces and streetscapes to create a shared space and increase cross community and cross border interaction.
- Engaging 1570 Participants across 21 capital projects, including:
1.1 Enhancement to Existing Community Spaces/Halls Programme | Budget | Participants | |
1 | Ballinode Community Centre – Fit out of interior of centre to include kitchen equipment, tables, chairs, digital screens, storage, toilet fittings, painting, outdoor furniture. | €50,000.00 | 650 |
2 | Carrickasedge Social Centre – Resurfacing and levelling of external pathways and associated drainage works. | €12,853.00 | |
3 | Castleblayney Faughs – Structural works to make building accessible, new doors, insulation, audio visual equipment, heating, alarm, cctv. | €49,500.00 | |
4 | Clontibret Community Centre – Refurbish unused rooms, refurbish floor in main hall, painting in hall and replacement of oil tank. | €38,000.00 | |
5 | Doohamlet Community & Resource Centre CLG – Renovations to reception area, kitchenette facilities, furniture. | €50,000.00 | |
6 | Emyvale Leisure Centre – Install upstairs toilet, new sinks in downstairs toilets. | €50,000.00 | |
7 | Gaeil Triucha CLG – Refurbishment of meeting room and meeting spaces. | €50,000.00 | |
8 | Killanny Social Recreation Centre – Flooring, heating, paintwork. | €49,400.00 | |
9 | Latton O Rahilly – Refurbishment of toilets | €40,955.00 | |
10 | Sean McDermotts GAA Club – Installation of a lift | €50,000.00 | |
11 | The Phoenix Centre – Upgrade shower facilities and toilets | €48,513.25 | |
12 | Tullycorbet Community Development – New door opening and digital keypad. | € 5,000.00 | |
Total | €494,221.25 | 650 | |
1.2 Capital Youth Programme | Budget | Participants | |
13 | Ballybay Park – Upgrade surface on Basketball Court to a polymeric rubber surface | € 20,000.00 | 660 |
14 | Ballybay Park – Teen Hang Out with access to WiFi facilities, a place to play music, hang out in a dry environment and have access to charging facilities (similar to Rossmore park) | € 20,000.00 | |
15 | Clones – Teen Haven Teen Hang out with various facilities | € 60,000.00 | |
16 | Oram Village, Castleblayney – provision of outdoor recreational exercise equipment | € 50,000.00 | |
17 | Drumillard Playpark, Castleblayney – Stand alone Box Up Units | € 25,000.00 | |
18 | Cloughvalley Playpark, Carrickmacross – Standalone Box Up Units | € 25,000.00 | |
19 | Scotstown, Monaghan –Playground | €100,000.00 | |
Total | €300,000.00 | 660 | |
1.3 Womens Hub | Budget | Participants | |
20 | Monaghan – Support development and fit-out of women’s hub. | € 102,927.20 | 60 |
Total | € 102,927.20 | 60 | |
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1.4 Community Garden | Budget | Participants | |
21 | Mullaghmatt – Community Garden | € 114,837.00 | 200 |
Total | € 114,837.00 | 200 | |
Theme 2: Thriving & Peaceful Communities
Theme 2: Thriving & Peaceful Communities
- Funding Allocated: €1,337,358.11
- Aim to reconnect communities; to stimulate cross community interaction and engagement around common interests which enable normalised relationship building through community activities including: Youth activities, environmental activities, health and wellbeing, community and voluntary sector capacity building and intergenerational activities.
- Engaging 1,950 participants in a cross County distribution of programme activities, to be delivered through Delivery Partners, including:
Programme | Delivery Partner | Budget | Participants |
2.1 Peace Youth Programme | CMETB | € 260,000.00 | 390 |
2.2 Environment for all | Global Action Plan (GAP) | € 253,926.96 | 390 |
2.3Community Health & Well-Being | Peace Link | € 260,000.00 | 390 |
2.4Capacity Building & Community Development Programme | MID | € 300,000.00 | 400 |
2.5Intergenerational Programmes and activities | CMETB | € 263,431.15 | 380 |
Total | €1,337,358.11 | 1,950 | |
Theme 3: Celebrating Cultures & Diversity
Theme 3: Celebrating Cultural Diversity
- Funding Allocated: €662,450.14
- Aims to further develop these relationships and community cohesion by offering complementary activities which celebrate and explore culture and diversity within the communities present within the Monaghan County Council area. The activities will also enable dialogue around legacy issues, aiding in healing and resolution of issues related to our shared past.
- Engaging 1,055 participants in the following programmes:
Programme | Budget | Participants |
3.1 Explore our heritage through Music, Dance and Language | €662,450.14 | 340 |
3.2 Who do you think you are? | 340 | |
3.3 Multi-Cultural Events/Festival Programme | 375 | |
Total | €662,450.14 | 1,055 |
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