Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount of money spent on cross border peace initiatives in 2010, 2011, 2012 and planned for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15591/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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My Department provides funding to cross border projects through its Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds. The purpose of these Funds is to assist organisations involved in reconciliation work, to support efforts to create better understanding between people on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain, and to assist local initiatives aimed at tackling sectarianism. Funding is provided to cross border initiatives, as well as to local initiatives within Northern Ireland. A table showing the total budget and the amount spent in support of cross border initiatives for the years 2010 to 2012 is included with this reply.

As will be noted, the total amount of funding awarded to support cross border initiatives from 2010 to 2012 was €4.783 million. The total amount of funding awarded under the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds during this period was €8.7 million.

€2.7 million will be made available in 2013 under the Reconciliation and Anti-Sectarianism Funds. The first round of funding in 2013 is currently underway, and I expect to announce funding decisions in early May. The closing date for the second round of funding will be 27th September. At this stage it is not possible to outline what proportion of funding in 2013 will relate to cross border peace initiatives because grants are awarded based on the strength of the applications received, but it is reasonable to expect a similar proportion to that provided in previous years.

While we must acknowledge the extraordinary progress which has been made on our island over the past fifteen years, we cannot take it for granted. There is still important reconciliation work to be done, work that may take generations. In facing up to the challenges that remain, we should remember that reconciliation must be taken forward not just at the political level but also very much at the community level.