James McDaid
Question:43 Dr. McDaid asked the asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the continuing peace process, if he will request the Board of International Fund for Ireland that funds should be on a 50/50 basis. [
Written Answers. - International Fund for Ireland.
The International Fund for Ireland was established by an international agreement signed by the Irish and British Governments on 18 September, 1986. The purpose of the fund was to act as a vehicle of international support for the promotion of economic and social development in those areas of both parts of Ireland which had suffered most severely from the violence of recent years.
Article 3 of that agreement stated, inter alia, that:
Because of the special problems in Northern Ireland associated with the instability of recent years, approximately three quarters of the resources of the Fund shall be spent there.
As well as the aforementioned special problems of Northern Ireland, the prescribed allocation ratio was also related to the relative distribution of population on both sides of the border where the population on the Northern Ireland side is roughly four times larger than the aggregate population of the six border counties on this side.
Given that the relevant provision was incorporated in the international agreement establishing the fund, the Deputy will appreciate that its board has no discretion in regard to changing the prescribed balance of allocation.