Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 67: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the proposed closure of accommodation and conference facilities at a centre (details supplied) due to reduced funds to the centre from private and public sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18165/11]

Michael Noonan (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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I am highly conscious of the centre to which the Deputy refers and of its track record in relation to peace-building on the island of Ireland and beyond. My Department has worked closely with the centre on its programming activities in the peace-building area. Most recently, the centre received an award of €112,500 from my Department's Reconciliation Fund towards its work in three key aspects - political dialogue and training, reconciliation dialogue and a training programme for women from disadvantaged backgrounds who are involved in local peace-building. This award followed on from close to €3 million which the centre has received in support from the Reconciliation Fund since the early 1980s and in addition to almost €400,000 through my Department's Conflict Resolution Unit since 2009.

Several meetings have taken place over recent months between officials from my Department and representatives of the centre with a view to assisting it to adapt to the current very difficult economic climate by reviewing its programmes and overall budgetary position, thereby permitting it to focus upon its core competences and considerable experience in the area of peace-building, and these are ongoing. Last week my Department was notified that for budgetary reasons and of its own accord, the centre had decided it was appropriate to cease offering accommodation and conference facilities at their current location with effect from 10 July.

Arrangements have been negotiated by the centre to permit it to use accommodation and conference facilities at another nearby location as these are required. The centre's operations will continue to function in full from another building at their current site and a café at the centre will also remain open. I welcome the constructive way in which the centre has approached these difficult decisions in the face of resource constraints and pressures upon Government finances.