McGuinness hosts seminar in European parliament on vital border funding
THE importance of EU funding for the border region was highlighted at a special seminar in the European parliament in Strasbourg last week.
Mairead McGuinness MEP for Louth and first Vice-President of the European Parliament co-hosted with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) a showcase in the Parliament which brought together organisations that benefited from EU PEACE or Interreg funding from across Northern Ireland and the border region.
The seminar highlighted the positive impact and important role of EU funding in the region.
Concerns about the future of EU funding for the border counties in particular have emerged amid the Brexit debate.
Many organisations across Louth rely on the vital funding that has come from Interreg, PEACE and the Special EU Programmes body.
Ms.McGuinness was recently in Dundalk to launch the ‘Changing Lives’ programme which has benefitted from the SEUPB.
Changing Lives is initiative which is aimed at children in the three to seven age group who may have ADHD.
It works with families to help children reach their full potential.
‘It will help their parents and teachers first understand the challenges and then experience the joy and fulfilment of seeing the children develop their innate skills and talents,’ said Ms. McGuinness.
Among those who took part in the showcase in Strasbourg were Professor Lorraine Martin, Queens University, Belfast, along with Dr Keith Thornbury from Dundalk Institute of Technology and Professor John Lockhart, who is based at the University of the West of Scotland.