Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will supply details of grants paid to a project (details supplied) through the Combat Poverty Agency; the levels of moneys paid and the particular activities and sectors targeted for assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33269/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The organisation referred to by the Deputy was awarded grant aid of €600,568 in July 2002 under the EU co-funded PEACE II Programme. This was to assist ex-political prisoners, their families and others to access education, training, advice and mentoring as a progression to employment, equality and full integration.

Specifically, the funding was committed to enhance the welfare, integration and development of ex-republican prisoners, displaced people and former combatants and their families in Leitrim, west Cavan, and the Arigna area -

- to assist survivors of conflict to overcome the psychological and emotional effects of their experiences;

- to improve their position in the economy through the welfare advice, emotional support, training, education, transport and childcare support which will address and assist in removing barriers to inclusion and reconciliation; and

- to assist in healing divisions in communities brought about by conflict.

In specifically addressing the needs of ex-prisoners and their families, this funding under PEACE II was designed to underpin the commitments made by the two governments on the reintegration of politically motivated prisoners. The project was implemented over a three and a half year period from July 2002 until December 2005 and, during this time, in excess of 800 people availed of the services or supports provided. In addition, eight individuals were trained in reconciliation and conflict resolution.

Following on from the PEACE II grant, an additional award of €385,500 was made in January 2006 in respect of the PEACE II Extension Programme. This was essentially a two and a half year extension to the work undertaken under the original project. As an Employment Enhancement Programme, it was aimed at advancing education, relieving poverty, outreaching to other groups or individuals who may consider or perceive the target group as adversaries, providing support and training for Republican political ex-prisoners and their families, displaced persons, former combatants and their families, to facilitate their resettlement and reintegration into society.

Some of the specific objectives of the Employment Enhancement Programme were:

- to build the capacity of individuals and target groups through the delivery of employment skills training and other related programmes;

- to deliver an integrated capacity building and reconciliation programme to both provide the skills and confidence for the target groups to engage with other groups and to conduct reconciliation workshops around the theme of social justice and inclusive society;

- to provide support services such as counselling, mentoring and advice, to encourage and assist target group members in obtaining gainful employment;

- to assist a further 120 individuals increase their employability by gaining at least one accredited training course and enhance the development of another 200 target group individuals;

- to improve the ability of target group individuals to compete for employment opportunities.

In excess of 500 people participated in the Employment Enhancement Programme, with 129 individuals receiving accreditation in a range of courses to enhance their employability, as well as further training in conflict resolution and reconciliation.