John Dennehy
Question:43 Mr. Dennehy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding remaining unopened border roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4200/07]
View answerThursday, 8 February 2007
Questions (67, 68, 69)
Pat Carey
Question:61 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that the remaining few closed border crossings will be opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4370/07]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 61 together.
The Government has consistently stated that the border crossings closed by the British authorities on grounds of security should be reopened as part of the wider process of security normalisation in Northern Ireland, and in order to facilitate economic development in border areas. To date, 102 crossings have been reopened since 1994, with just two remaining closed at Annaghroe and Knockaginney.
The Government is committed to the reopening of these remaining closed roads, and this commitment is set out in the chapter on All-Island Cooperation in the National Development Plan.
A cross-Border working group is currently taking forward the practical arrangements for the restoration of these two border crossings. I am confident that this work will be advanced as rapidly as possible.
Liz McManus
Question:44 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the projects and activities his Department are involved in with regard to building relations with loyalist working class areas in Northern Ireland; the level of funding these projects receive; the length of time these projects will last; the number of Department staff devoted to working in and with loyalist areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4327/07]
View answerThe Government gave a commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to actively promote and develop respect, reconciliation and mutual understanding between the different traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. Following this, the Department of Foreign Affairs has provided assistance and grant aid to groups involved in cross-community and cross-border reconciliation and outreach work throughout this island. This work assists the development of lasting political stability, and serves to underpin wider political efforts to reach agreement.
In pursuit of this commitment, the Department's Reconciliation Fund provides funding to organisations on both sides of the border, including groups from both nationalist and loyalist communities in Northern Ireland. To give effect to the commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement, the budget of the Reconciliation Fund was increased almost eight-fold in 1999 to £2 million. Since then, the Department of Foreign Affairs has awarded grants of just under €21 million to over 580 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community and cross-border reconciliation activities. The overall allocation for 2007 is €3 million.
It is not the practice of this Department to categorise the community background of the organisations that it deals with. Indeed the work carried out by many groups in loyalist areas has a strong cross-community and cross border dimension. However, a full list of all projects which have received funding is available on the Department's website.
The Department is committed to working with both sides of the community in Northern Ireland, and strives to build relationships with people from across the political spectrum. Accordingly, many members of staff in my Department regularly have contact with those living and working in loyalist areas.