Cross-community projects in Northern Ireland and Border counties received a major cash injection last year from the International Fund for Ireland (IFI), it was revealed today.
The fund spent €43.7 million in supporting 250 new projects throughout the region, with more than 90 per cent of the money committed to the most disadvantaged areas.
Publishing its annual report in Dublin, chairman Mr William T. McCarter said 2003 had been a good year for the fund and that reconciliation projects were vital if conflict was ever to be resolved.
More than €17 million was allocated to the economic development programme, which has helped create and expand new businesses.
The Wider Horizons employment training programme, which involves more than 1,000 young people, was granted over €7 million and some €29 million was spent on revitalising deprived areas in the region.
The report was presented to the Minister for Communications, Mr Dermot Ahern, who said the IFI was pivotal to the social and economic developments that have taken place in the northern half of Ireland in the last 18 years.
The IFI was established by the Irish and British governments in 1986 to promote economic development and reconciliation between unionists and nationalists throughout Ireland. The money is donated by the governments of the EU, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
The bulk of the fund's resources are spent in Northern Ireland and the six southern border counties - Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. Total contributions to the fund in 2003 were €35 million.
PA