Funding is available to voluntary based groups through the Department of Foreign Affairs Vote, and the Vote for International Co-operation, under a number of headings as follows:
Funds are available from subheads C, D and E of the Vote for International Co-operation to voluntary organisations in Ireland and abroad for activities related to development and relief in developing countries. It is not yet possible to say how much of the funding provided for development co-operation for 1992 will go to groups and activities of the kind referred to in the question since allocations are made progressively during the year in response to applications. The allocations made in 1990 are indicated in Annexes 3, 9, 12, 15 and 18 of the Department's report on Ireland's Official Development Assistance for that year, which is in the Dáil Library. The report for 1991 is in the course of preparation. Applications for funding can be made to the development co-operation division of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
A total allocation of £115,000 was made available under subhead F of the Department's Vote for 1992, the purpose of which is to encourage North-South and Anglo-Irish co-operation. Applications under that subhead may be made through the Anglo-Irish division of the Department by organisations involved in reconciliation work and in efforts to create better understanding between people in both parts of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. I will shortly be deciding on the individual allocations to be made from the subhead to a number of organisations doing very worthwhile work in this area.
The sum of £213,000 has been allocated from the national lottery to the Department in 1992 for the promotion of cultural relations with other countries. Individuals and groups, including those of a voluntary nature, may apply for funding for suitable projects under this heading to the cultural section of the Department. Decisions on allocation of funding are made by me on the advice of the Cultural Relations Committee.
