Written answers

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Northern Ireland Issues

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in view of the vision of the reconciliation fund to address unresolved issues that have impeded or slowed down progress, if consideration will be given to support groups working with victims of conflict in this State to be recognised as strategic partners of the fund. [26247/14]

Photo of Eamon GilmoreEamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Last week, I launched the 2014-2017 Strategy for the Reconciliation Fund. The Strategy prioritises the further implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and the Agreements which flowed from it, through community, academic and advocacy work. Currently about 150 organisations per year are awarded funding for project work. The new strategy also makes provision to develop a new multiannual funding framework for a small number of organisations who will become strategic partners of the Fund for a three-year period. Such organisations must have already received project-level funding from the Fund. Up to five strategic partners will be approved each year. The criteria for selecting strategic partners are detailed in the strategy. It is envisaged that the first tranche of multiannual funding will be implemented in 2015. A number of support groups for victims of the conflict in this jurisdiction and in Northern Ireland have received project funding in the past. Most recently, in May 2014, I approved an award of €48,000 for the Pat Finucane Centre-Justice for the Forgotten. Organisations working in this and other sectors may apply to become strategic partners if they meet the eligibility criteria and their applications will be assessed against the criteria outlined in the strategy.

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