Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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54. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the funding of €100,000 available to community and voluntary organisations to promote dialogue on the future of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14022/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The funding to which the Deputy refers is the Communicating Europe Initiative. This year’s grant scheme was launched by the Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee, TD on 8th March last, coinciding with the Regional Citizen’s Dialogue on the Future of Europe in Letterkenny, Co Donegal. This year, funding up to a total of €100,000 will be available to voluntary organisations, educational bodies and civil society groups to support projects which communicate European issues to the general public. The maximum individual grant will be €15,000. The Communicating Europe Initiative is aimed at deepening public awareness of the role the EU plays in our daily lives and at improving the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues, particularly at regional or national level.

Projects should seek to communicate European issues, the role of the European Union and Ireland's place in Europe and may include public conversations through Citizens' dialogue-type events.

Projects promoting dialogue on the Future of Europe are particularly encouraged this year. Further details of the Communicating Europe Scheme can be found on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s website. It has also be promoted via NGO and other stakeholder networks. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 18th April next.