Vol. 418 No. 7
261 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide financial assistance to an organisation (details supplied) which among other projects, has been providing holidays for children from the most difficult and disadvantaged areas of Northern Ireland on the basis of equal numbers of Protestant and Catholic children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I commend the worthwhile activities being carried out by this organisation which, since 1988, has received a grant each year from the subhead for North-South and Anglo-Irish co-operation of the Vote for the Department of Foreign Affairs. I regret that it was necessary to reduce the grant provided in 1992 below the level of previous years. This was due to the fact that, because of the budgetary situation, the Government were obliged to reduce the overall allocation to the subhead in question.
As I have previously emphasised, the reduction in this year's allocation to the subhead in no sense implies diminished appreciation, on my own part or that of the Government, of the importance and value of the work being done by the various organisations assisted. I have also said that I hope that the budgetary circumstances next year may be such as to permit a higher allocation to be made to the subhead in question.
