Vol. 486 No. 6
123 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the measures, if any, he will take to continue the work of the 1997 European Year Against Racism; if he will provide increased funding for this purpose; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3197/98]
My Department provided support and funding for the national effort for European Year Against Racism, 1997. I recognise the effectiveness with which the allocation of £100,000 for the national co-ordinating committee was spent but it was, by definition, a once off allocation. As I said in my statement to this House on 16 December last, I would be prepared to consider, within the constraints of the available resources, applications for further assistance, including support for research, in the general area of racism. The National Co-ordinating Committee for European Year against Racism recently submitted a proposal for continuing action in this area to be funded by my Department and this proposal is under consideration in my Department.
