Minister of Finance and Personnel, Mark Durkan, has announced EU gap funding arrangements for voluntary and community groups working towards easing sectarian conflict in Northern Ireland are to be extended.

The money, which is allocated under the European Funding Programme known as Peace II, will mean hundreds of groups across Northern Ireland and in the border regions can continue the work they are doing to help towards the creation of a peaceful and stable society.

The Peace II funding programme, worth a total of £366 million, has an objective to promote economic and social development with a special focus on those groups, sectors and areas which have been most affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland’s society.

Mr Durkan said: “This announcement is good news for everyone. It provides a guarantee for the community and voluntary groups already in receipt of gap funding that their financial lifeline will continue, as well as the important work they do and the jobs they have created.

“I have written to my Ministerial colleagues to advise them of these new arrangements to ensure the approach and action being taken is clear to all concerned and this essential funding continues to flow to these grassroots groups without any difficulty.

Sinn Féin representative for north Belfast Gerry Kelly has welcomed the announcement but added that a “stop-start approach” to funding jobs and services in the community sector wasn’t good enough. He said: “In order to put in place long term strategies and programmes there need to be a consistent stream of funding made available. Failure to do so could lead to the decimation of communities.”

Under the five-year programme Northern Ireland is allocated 80 per cent of the funding with 20 per cent going to the border regions.

The Executive has already allocated a total of £10 million to voluntary and community groups under the existing gap funding arrangements. (AMcE)