€2.3m donated to cross-border initiatives

The International Fund for Ireland (IFI) today approved more than €2.3m in support for border county projects in the Republic at its Board Meeting in Belfast.

This brings to over €7m the funding which the IFI has approved for counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth in 2004.

Since its inception in 1986 the IFI has supported more than 5,000 projects North and South with funding in excess of €730m.

Amongst the projects approved today was €633,000 for the International School for Peace Studies in Messines in Belgium. The 16th Irish and the 36th Ulster Divisions fought side by side at the battle of Messines in July 1917.

Other projects approved today were a holiday centre for disadvantaged people in Bundoran, Co Donegal to be run by the Bundoran St Vincent de Paul Conference, which will receive €390,550. The total cost of the centre is €2m, of which €1m will be provided by the St Vincent de Paul national body.

The IFI also approved €227,875 towards the €911,500 cost of a Tyrone/Donegal cross border initiative designed to remove barriers to rural economic development.

The Teach Bán Centre for Peace Building in Downings, Co. Donegal will receive approximately €350,000 towards developing a community outreach programme.

In Sligo, the Harbour House Hostel is to receive €200,000 towards the €783,000 cost of upgrading its accommodation.

In Leitrim and Fermanagh, funding of €138,850 will go to the Green Box/Kingfisher Cycle Trail to develop two related green tourism products on a cross-border basis.