780,000 Euros In New Reconciliation Grants

These grants are being made to 27 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community and cross-border outreach and reconciliation work.

Announcing the grants, Minister Martin stressed: "The ongoing work of community-based groups plays an important role in developing capacity for people on the ground to participate in the progress that has been made in the peace process in recent years.

"This is particularly true of organisations that directly involve young people, such as Northern Ireland Children's Enterprise and the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation.

These groups are giving young people the necessary skills to engage in reconciliation, while simultaneously developing links between communities across these islands.

"Northern Ireland's Children Enterprise is a community relations organization based in Belfast that aims to promote reconciliation, good relations and tolerance. I am happy to announce funding for this organisation's programme entitled 'Citizenship in a Divided Society'. The programme will run in many schools in Northern Ireland over 11 weeks, and will encourage students to consider such issues as identity, diversity, stereotypes, prejudice and conflict management."

The Reconciliation Fund will also support the Tim Parry Jonathan Ball Foundation's three-year Tim Parry Leadership Development Programme. Aimed at developing the leadership skills of young Irish and British people, this programme aims to enable them to play proactive peace and reconciliation roles within and between their respective communities. The program will take place on the island of Ireland and at the Warrington Peace Centre, and will bring together students aged 15-17 years from each of these locations.

"Ensuring that young people are given the opportunity to actively take part in reconciliation within and between communities is vital in building a better future for relations throughout these islands," the Minister concluded.