Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2018
76. Deputy John Brady asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the detail of State funding that is provided to religious organisations or persons here by his Department; the amount of funding provided for each of the years 2010 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43155/18]
View answerMy Department, through the Reconciliation Fund established in 1982, supports a broad range of non-governmental, voluntary, community and other organisations in creating better understanding between the people and traditions of the island of Ireland, and also between Ireland and Britain. The many partner organisations supported by the Reconciliation Fund include religious organisations and organisations with a strong religious or faith ethos, association or inspiration.
So far this year, for example, the Reconciliation Fund allocated funds to reconciliation projects undertaken by groups such as the Carryduff Elim Pentecostal Church, the Churches Trust, Corrymeela Community, Dialogue for Diversity, Epworth Methodist Church Bonfire Group, Holycross Retreat Ardoyne, Kilkeel Parish Bridge Association, Newry District Interchurch Forum, The Saint Patrick Centre and St Columb’s Cathedral. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes details of grants on our website at www.dfa.ie.
The Government’s programme for overseas development, Irish Aid, provides funding to Misean Cara, a missionary movement which implements projects in more than 50 countries. Since it was established in 2004, Misean Cara’s funding from Irish Aid increased steadily from €12m in 2005 to €20m in 2008.
Misean Cara received €16m annually from Irish Aid from 2009 until 2015.
The annual allocation for 2016 and 2017 was €15.5m. The 2018 allocation is also €15.5m. €10m of this was disbursed in September with the remaining €5.5m to be disbursed later this year. Irish Aid also provides funding to numerous other NGOs, many of which are faith-based, including Trócaire, Christian Aid Ireland, World Vision Ireland and Tearfund Ireland.
In addition, the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides funding to not-for-profit organisations and projects to support Irish communities overseas and to facilitate the development of more strategic links between Ireland and the global Irish. Two such organisations, Crosscare and the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO), both with headquarters in Ireland and under the auspices of religious organisations, receive grants from my Department.
Crosscare is the Social Support Agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin and provides a range of social care, community and youth work services across the Dublin Archdiocese. The Crosscare Migrant Project, supported through the Department’s Emigrant Support Programme, provides information, advisory and advocacy services for Irish emigrants and returning emigrants and offers comprehensive pre-departure services to Irish citizens considering emigration.
The ICPO provides support to Irish prisoners and their families in Africa, Asia, South and Central America, North America, Europe and Australia. The ICPO operates under the auspices of the Irish Episcopal Council for Emigrants - a Council of the Irish Bishops' Conference.
The table outlines the funding to Crosscare, ICPO and Misean Cara between 2010 and 2018.
My Department also supports projects and proposals which further Ireland’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) priorities. This includes maximising the EU’s voice on human rights issues, preserving international peace and security and supporting the UN and other multilateral organisations. Some of these organisations may be religious in nature, or could have a religious ethos, but none are based in Ireland.
Table of Funding to Crosscare, ICPO & Misean Cara 2010 -2018
|
Organisation |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
Crosscare |
€161,140 |
€172,000 |
€172,000 |
€150,000 |
€220,500 |
|
ICPO |
€95,302 |
€96,448 |
€95,779 |
€128,176 |
€102,591 |
|
Misean Cara |
€16,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
€16,000,000 |
|
Organisation |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Crosscare |
€175,168 |
€219,000 |
€229,322 |
€250,683 1 |
|
ICPO |
€126,730 |
€98,265 |
€117,855 |
€141,081 |
|
Misean Cara |
€16,000,000 |
€15,500,000 |
€15,500,000 |
€15,500,000 2 |
1 Approved, not yet disbursed
2 €5,500,000 remaining to be disbursed in 2018
