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Ireland
>> Regional Overview >> Ireland Overview Activity Data Sheet
PROGRAM: Ireland
TITLE & NUMBER: Special Initiatives, 190-041
STATUS: Continuing
PROPOSED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $29,897,000
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND FUNDING SOURCE: $24,600,000
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY 1987 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: FY 2005Summary: The purpose of this objective is to foster permanent reconciliation between the feuding factions in Ireland through support for economic regeneration at the community level.
Program Categories include the International Fund for Ireland (the Fund) and the Irish Visa Program.
Key Results: Activities under this objective result in job creation, reconstruction of disadvantaged areas, community-based economic projects, improved job skills, and improved leaderships and reconciliation abilities, particularly among young people.
Performance and Prospects: The Fund has been very successful in encouraging communities to take ownership of projects. The jobs and social stability that have resulted from the U.S. contribution to the Fund are a tangible expression of the U.S. policy of encouraging peace and reconciliation through economic progress.
As of September 2000, about 4,600 Fund projects have created approximately 38,000 jobs. Over 750 organizations have been assisted to promote social and economic development, involving more than 9,000 community leaders. For every U.S. dollar invested by the Fund, two dollars are raised from private, and United Kingdom and Ireland sources.
The Fund's Wider Horizons Program offers disadvantaged young people, aged 18-28, the opportunity to improve their employment prospects through the provision of training and work experience at home and abroad. Since 1987, over 11,000 young people have participated in the program.
The Disadvantaged Areas Initiative continues to be a primary focus encompassing almost 90 percent of the Fund's program resources, targeting funds on the areas of greatest need. Projects under this initiative focus on community economic regeneration, community improvement, and border towns and villages with special emphasis on employment and business creation. Another area of great importance is the Fund's Communities Initiative, which is concerned with providing people in the most disadvantaged areas with the skills, resources and self-confidence to undertake the social and economic regeneration of their communities. Special emphasis in the Communities Initiative is on leadership potential, reconciliation and conflict resolution. The Fund supports economic, political, and social initiatives for permanent reconciliation among Catholic and Protestant communities.
The Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (IPPCTP) helps young people who are residents of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland to develop job skills and conflict resolution abilities. Through this program, the State Department is authorized to provide up to 4,000 non-immigrant visas in each of three years, inclusive of spouses and children of the trainees. Participants must have confirmed job offers before they enter the United States and may work here for up to 36 months. The Program includes a re-employment component to assist participants in finding jobs in their fields back home.
The IPPCTP targets the long-term (three months or more) unemployed and those who have been made redundant or received redundancy notices. A small number of employed persons who have been nominated by their employers will be admitted to the program. Program organizers are committed to ensuring that equality of opportunity in relation to community background, ethnic origin, gender and disability is paramount throughout all phases of the Program. Beginning with the first group of participants in March-April 2000, some 365 young people have participated so far.
Beneficiaries: Residents and communities of Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland.
Possible Adjustments to Plans: None anticipated.
Other Donor Programs: The Fund's activities are financed through international contributions from the United States, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. Each of the donors sends a non-voting observer to all Fund Board meetings. In 2000, the United States was the largest donor to the Fund, providing approximately 50% of total donor funding for the year.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: The State Department has partnered with the Training and Employment Agency (T&EA) of Northern Ireland and the Training and Employment Authority (FAS) of Ireland to implement the IPPCTP Program.
Selected Performance Measures: Broad measures of performance include number of jobs created and number of community leaders participating in reconciliation projects. As of September 2000, about 4,600 Fund projects had created approximately 38,000 jobs. Over 750 organizations had been assisted to promote social and economic development, involving more than 9,000 community leaders.
U.S. Financing
(In thousands of dollars)
Obligations Expenditures Unliquidated Through September 30, 1999 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 336,777 ESF 297,577 ESF 39,200 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Fiscal Year 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 4,000 ESF 39,200 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA Through September 30, 2000 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 340,777 ESF 336,777 ESF 4,000 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Prior Year Unobligated Funds 0 DA 0 CSD 19,525 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA 0 DA 0 CSD 29,897 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001 0 DA 0 CSD 49,422 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Future Obligations Est. Total Cost Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA 0 DA 0 DA 0 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 24,600 ESF 0 ESF 414,799 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
