Sinn Féin Ireland South MEP Kathleen Funchion has said she will be championing Ireland’s fight for EU funding in the upcoming funding period. She has been appointed to a key role in shaping the European Social Fund over the coming year as the Rapporteur for the Regional Development Committee.

Following her appointment, MEP Funchion said:

“Now is the time to start fighting for Ireland’s fair share of the next round of EU funding and to make sure that that funding remains sufficient and social in its character.

“Ireland South is a region of vastly diverse levels of prosperity, ensuring access to the European Social Fund has been thrown into question by some, while there are also attempts to make the funding conditional on reforms insisted upon by Brussels.

“I will use my position as rapporteur in the Regional Development Committee to champion Ireland’s cause in this battle. I recently addressed the Employment Committee in Brussels outlining my priorities for the ESF + which can play a role in tackling poverty and homelessness. It is essential that the most vulnerable still benefit from the programme which itself is under attack.

“My priorities include making sure all regions benefit, but in particular I will be focussed on Ireland South. I took the opportunity to draw attention to the unique situation around the Irish border and how it is important that the north can benefit from EU funds and propose actions around the issues of today like using the ESF+ to help address the housing crisis and helping communities to resource themselves as new arrivals come in.”