Irene McMaster and John Bachtler are part of a team with RSM McClure Watters carrying out the ex ante evaluations of the INTERREG A cross border cooperation programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland and the INTERREG PEACE programme.
The current INTERREG IVA Programme for Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Western Scotland supports strategic cross-border co-operation for a more prosperous and sustainable region. The INTERREG IVA Programme is worth 256 million euro (192 million from the EU with further national contributions of 64 million).
The PEACE III Programme is a part-funded by the European Union (225 million from the EU with further national contributions of 108 million). The main aims of the PEACE III Programme are to reinforce progress towards a peaceful and stable society and to promote reconciliation by assisting operations and projects which help to reconcile communities and contribute towards a shared society for everyone. The ex ante evaluation will provide an external perspective on the preparation of the new programmes as they are drafted with a view to further strengthening the Programme.
The EPRC team will provide expert advice on key strategic issues associated with the design of the future programme, its implementation and monitoring.