Council can appeal or re-apply for EU funding for project

A meeting of a PEACE III steering committee recently rejected an application for the Council's Western Perspective Public Realm 950,000 project in Fahan Street which was at an advanced stage but scored insufficiently to gain EU funding.

Mr Wilson said the Council has until January 17, 2010 to re-apply for the money, otherwise, it can avail of the PEACE III programmes appeals procedure.

Responding to an Assembly Question he said: "Derry City Council submitted an application for the Western Perspective Public Realm Project to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) under the Creating Shared Public Spaces theme of the PEACE III Programme.

"The application was assessed against the agreed programme selection criteria by the PEACE III Steering Committee in September 2010 but did not score sufficiently to be approved for funding.

"The Steering Committee is chaired by the SEUPB and includes social partners and elected representatives as well as departmental officials from DFP and OFMdFM. It scores applications on a consensus basis.

"The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment is not represented on the Steering Committee and has had no role in the assessment of this project.

"I understand that SEUPB has scheduled a meeting with Derry City Council to discuss the outcome of the application and possible ways forward.

"The Theme remains open until 17 January 2011, allowing for resubmission of the application if appropriate. Alternatively, the Council might wish to avail of the PEACE III appeals procedure."