Vol. 504 No. 2
120 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has evaluated a grant application made by a band (details supplied) from County Fermanagh for funding towards its future development; if he will allocate funding to the band; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11646/99]
Last week I announced that the Government had decided on an eight-fold increase, from £1/4 million to £2 million, in the Department of Foreign Affairs Reconciliation Fund for 1999.
This 800 per cent increase in the reconciliation fund fulfils the Governments pledge in the Good Friday Agreement to positively examine the case for enhanced financial assistance for the work of reconciliation. I hope this very substantial increase in the Government's funding for reconciliation will not only enhance the valuable and vital work being carried out by the organisations involved in reconciliation, but will also encourage the development of significant and imaginative new initiatives.
Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs are currently evaluating applications for assistance in 1999 from the reconciliation fund, including one received, through Deputy Bruton, in early April from a band in County Fermanagh. I hope to announce a number of allocations from the 1999 reconciliation fund in the near future.
