Trevor Sargent
Question:8 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedures, if any, in place for identifying suitable programmes for cross-Border funding by the International Fund for Ireland. [13665/96]
Vol. 470 No. 8
8 Mr. Sargent asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the procedures, if any, in place for identifying suitable programmes for cross-Border funding by the International Fund for Ireland. [13665/96]
27 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the positive effects, if any, of the additional international funding, other than that provided by the EU, since 1994 on the six southern Border counties, including any special initiatives undertaken since then. [19192/96]
33 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the administrative structures and procedures which have been put in place for applications for additional international funding, other than from the EU, in support of the peace process. [19194/96]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 27 and 33 together in so far as they refer to the International Fund for Ireland. Questions concerning other funds are being answered separately by other Ministers.
The mandate of the International Fund of Ireland, which was set up in 1986 by the Irish and British Governments, is "to promote economic and social advance and to encourage contact, dialogue and reconciliation between nationalists and unionists".
The work of the fund, by the nature of its mandate, involves cross-Border activity. However, since the fund is an independent body, operational matters, including decisions on identifying suitable programmes, their extent and duration, are the responsibility of the board of the fund. The Deputies might like therefore to pursue any more detailed inquiries directly with the fund.
As regards the effects of fund moneys on the Border counties since 1994, the total sum involved would come to around £15 million. This money has been spent across the wide range of programmes which the fund operates. These include, for example, support for community economic initiatives in disadvantaged towns and villages or on assistance with the development of tourism marketing skills.
One of the most striking examples of the fund's involvement with cross-Border work is the Shannon-Erne Waterway, now a thriving success, but a project where fund support was crucial from the outset.