Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The amount allocated for the programme for 2015 is €20 million, an increase of €2.5 million on the provision for 2014. The maintenance of peace, stability and economic growth in Northern Ireland remains a priority of the Government. The focus for 2015 will be on the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement. A review meeting has been convened by the UK and Irish Governments and it will be held on a quarterly basis. Six monthly updates on the progress of implementation will be published and, together with the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, I am looking forward to attending the first of these implementation meetings which takes place in Belfast on Friday. Implementation of the agreement is likely to be as challenging as the negotiation was in the final quarter of last year.

With regard to reconciliation funds, the fund strengthens the foundations of the peace process through increased understanding and reconciliation across the island. The allocation for 2015 is €2.7 million, the same as in 2014. Last year, there were a total of 320 applications for funding. The allocation was fully disbursed and 99% of grants were awarded to 160 projects. The objectives of the International Fund for Ireland, established in 1986 by the Irish and British Governments, are in line with the high-level goals of the Department to strengthen co-operation North and South and to work on a matter of lasting reconciliation. As part of the Stormont House Agreement, the Government reallocated savings of €5 million within the existing budget allocation for international bodies, Vote 28, to the International Fund for Ireland to support its work on the programme of reconciliation in Northern Ireland and in the Border counties. In addition, the Department will continue to support the administration of the International Fund for Ireland with an allocation for 2015 of €150,000, the same level as last year. I thank the Chairman and members for their comments. We had a recent Dáil debate on this but if there are any questions on any aspects of funding, I will be happy to deal with them.