Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2011
65 Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will make funding available on a once-off basis to an organisation (details supplied) as applied for under the Reconciliation Fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6828/11]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his interest in the Reconciliation Fund which is operated by my Department. The objective of the Reconciliation Fund is to assist individuals and organisations involved in reconciliation work and to encourage and facilitate better relations within and between the nationalist/republican and unionist/loyalist traditions on the island of Ireland and also relations between Ireland and Britain. A separate Anti-Sectarianism Fund operates alongside the Reconciliation Fund to provide financial assistance towards projects in communities that are seeking new and more effective ways of addressing sectarianism and division in society. Since 2007, the overall annual allocation to the two Funds has been €3 million.
Project applications are assessed in the light of the objectives of the Funds and in light of the advice of an Inter-departmental Advisory Committee which comprises official-level representatives from the Departments of the Taoiseach, Justice and Law Reform, Education and Skills and my own Department.
All applications will be examined over the coming weeks, ahead of the first funding round of 2011.
