Border, cross-community schemes get €1.16m
Border county and North/South cross community projects are to receive funding of €1.16m from the International Fund for Ireland following its September Board Meeting held in Sligo today.
This funding will support investment of over €2.5m in economic regeneration and reconciliation activities in counties Donegal, Leitrim and Louth and in other areas.
A Cork-based group catering for the needs of the elderly is to receive €380,000 for a North/South cross community initiative with the elderly. Westgate Foundation in Ballincollig has built a network of North/South linkages and exchanges.
The development of a Rural Resource Centre in Ballinglera, Co Leitrim is to receive funding of €183,045. The Ballinglera Development Association plans to renovate and extend a former creamery in the village to provide offices, training facilities, a community hall and meeting rooms.
An additional €118,142 was approved towards the redevelopment of a community business in Knockbridge, Co Louth and brings to €435,142 the total advanced by the Fund to this project.
The business is located in a cottage which was formerly the home of Agnes Burns, sister of poet Robbie Burns.
Donegal Town Enterprise Scheme Ltd is a not for profit community company founded in 1997 to promote economic and tourism development in Donegal Bay and the surrounding areas. The International Fund finance will contribute €477,513 towards the €795,855 total cost of acquiring a new waterbus for Donegal Bay.
The International Fund for Ireland was established by the Irish and British Governments in 1986 to promote economic and social advance and to encourage contact dialogue and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists throughout Ireland.
Contributors to the Fund are the European Union, the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Australia. In 2003, the Fund provided over €43m for development and reconciliation projects throughout Northern Ireland and the southern border counties.
