Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Programme C deals with matters relating to Northern Ireland and delivers funding for projects to bolster peace and reconciliation on this island. The maintenance of peace and stability in Northern Ireland remains an absolute priority for the Government. We intend to continue with a similar level of engagement in 2014 as last year when some 16 official visits were held. On the east-west relationship, it is our objective to maintain a strong Irish-British partnership in support of reconciliation and recovery. Overall, our contacts with the British Government remain good, with 22 official visits to London and regional priority locations in 2013. A similar level of engagement is envisaged for 2014 with the addition of the highly significant State visit in April.

The reconciliation and anti-sectarianism funds strengthen the foundations for the peace process through increased mutual understanding and reconciliation on the island. The allocation for 2014 is €2.7 million, which is the same as in 2013. In 2013, a total of 267 applications for funding were received. The 2013 allocation was fully disbursed and grants were awarded to support some 152 projects.

The objectives of the International Fund for Ireland are in line with the high-level goals of the Department to promote the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement by supporting the effective operations of its institutions; strengthening North-South co-operation; and working for lasting reconciliation.

The allocation for 2014 is €150,000, the same level as last year.