Tánaiste announces reconciliation funding for 69 projects
Press release
04 January 2019The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Simon Coveney T.D., today announced over €900,000 in funding for 69 projects through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Reconciliation Fund.
Announcing the funding, the Tánaiste said:
“I am delighted to announce an additional €900,000 in funding for 69 projects that support peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland. These projects will benefit communities in every county in Northern Ireland, as well as communities in Ireland.
“In 2018 my Department supported over 150 projects with €2.7 million through the Reconciliation Fund. This year, I will be committing an extra €1 million to the Reconciliation Fund. The €3.7 million will support organisations working to ensure a better future for the communities and people of this island. This reflects the Government’s unwavering commitment to building good relations and a sustainable peace well into the future.”
The Tánaiste added:
"As the New Year begins, I want to acknowledge the hugely important work being done by so many groups in support of achieving reconciliation on the island. I congratulate all those awarded funding in this latest round for the Reconciliation Fund. It is the commitment of individuals, groups and communities that protects our peace and deepens reconciliation. I salute the vision and determination of all in civil society who work to advance the peace. I am proud that my Department’s Reconciliation Fund can support the work of many such groups. These organisations which the Reconciliation Fund partners with are working to build meaningful links across all communities and traditions and that is essential for our shared island, now and always.”
- A list of projects being funded in the current round of funding can be found here. A list of projects previously funded in 2018 can be found here.
- The Reconciliation Fund has been in existence since 1982 and was increased significantly following the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. All parties to that Agreement undertook to “positively examine the case for enhanced financial assistance for the work of reconciliation.”
- As a result the Irish Government has provided increased support through the Reconciliation Fund since 1998. In the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, the Government committed to “support measures to promote reconciliation, including through continued annual provision of €2.7m in the Reconciliation Fund”.
- Further information on the Reconciliation Fund can be found at: www.dfa.ie/reconciliation
- On 22 May 2018, at an event marking the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement referendums, Tánaiste Simon Coveney T.D. announced an additional €1m funding for the Reconciliation Fund from 2019. Further information on this announcement is available here: https://www.dfa.ie/news-and-media/press-releases/press-release-archive/2018/may/tanaiste-commits-additional-1-million-for-ireland/
