23 May 2013, 14:40
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement Joe McHugh TD today welcomed the announcement by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore TD of over 1.5 million euros in funding to support community organisations on both sides of the border.
23 May 2013
Deputy McHugh says: “On behalf of the Committee, I warmly welcome the granting of this substantial funding for 74 reconciliation and anti-sectarianism projects which will benefit communities across Northern Ireland and the border region. It was a timely announcement, coming on the 15th anniversary of referenda in which the Good Friday Agreement was overwhelmingly ratified North and South. The securing of this funding will support a wide range of organisations at the vanguard of supporting reconciliation, tolerance and mutual respect between communities in Northern Ireland.”
“As a Committee we have prioritised engagement with communities at grass roots level, both at formal meetings in Leinster House and through regular visits to Northern Ireland and the border region. On those visits, we were frequently reminded that peace remained fragile and that the gains of the past fifteen years could not be taken for granted. Noting that the legacy of the conflict weighs disproportionately on working class areas, we are acutely aware that education and employment opportunities often elude many young people in Northern Ireland and the border region. It is particularly encouraging therefore that that the largest single award under the announcement yesterday was for Co-operation Ireland in its work with at-risk young people in marginalised communities.”
The list of groups awarded funding can be accessed via the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
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Ends
For further information please contact:
Paul Hand,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 4484
M: +353 87 694 9926
paul.hand@oireachtas.ie
Members of the Committee:
Deputies Seán Conlan, Seán Crowe, Clare Daly, Regina Doherty, Peter Fitzpatrick, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Peter Fitzpatrick, Michael P. Kitt, Joe McHugh, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Joe O’Reilly, Brendan Smith and Joanna Tuffy.
Senators Jim D’Arcy, Maurice Cummins, Mary Moran, Mary White.
Chairman: Joe McHugh, TD Vice-Chairman: Joe O'Reilly, TD