Efforts to support peace building and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and across the southern border counties have received another boost.

The International Fund for Ireland is to allocate a further €4.9m/£4.1m of funds to a variety of projects with news of this latest funding package being made following the Fund's most recent Board meeting, which took place in Sligo.

Denis Rooney, Chairman of the Fund, said: "The International Fund for Ireland recognises the significant challenges that still lie ahead for the consolidation of peace on this island, and this funding announcement demonstrates our determination and commitment to support projects that break down barriers and create a more integrated society to support long-term peace."

The package includes over €1.5m/£1.25m for the Community Based Economic and Social Regeneration Programme.

"This includes nine projects based in the southern border counties, and covering the counties of Donegal (Voice of Older People Donegal, Tuath), Leitrim (Leitrim County Development Board), Louth (Drogheda Community Forum, Louth Leader Partnership, Drogheda Youth Development), and Monaghan (Farney Community Development Group, Clones Community Forum, Truagh Development Association).

"This will go some way towards supporting some of the most socially- and economically-disadvantaged communities through innovative cross-community and cross-border intervention activities," the Chairman said.

More than €960k/£800k is going for four projects supported under the Fund's Community Bridges Programme, including funding for the Sliabh Beagh Cross-Border Partnership, a three year cross-community and cross-border capacity-development project operating across communities centred on the Sliabh Beagh mountain region, which straddles counties Monaghan, Tyrone and Fermanagh.

Meanwhile, over €1.75m/£1.45m has been allocated across the Fund's Sharing in Education, Integrating Community Organisations, Leaving a Legacy and Shared Neighbourhood Programmes, all aimed at delivering projects designed to promote and facilitate real integration and make significant progress towards securing lasting and sustainable peace.

Part of this allocation will go towards the extension of the Respecting Differences Programme to 20 pre-school settings in Counties Cavan and Monaghan over a three-year period.

After the meeting, last week, the Chairman also took the opportunity to thank the international donors to the Fund, the European Union and the Governments of the United States of America, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, for their support.

(BMcC/GK)