International Fund for Ireland Peace Walls Programme
Overview
The Fund, which is an independent, internationally-funded organisation promoting reconciliation between Unionists and Nationalists throughout Ireland, said considerable momentum had built up in recent years for the removal of peace walls/barriers but there was still fear in many communities about them coming down too quickly.
The Peace Walls Programme announced is designed to be the first stage in a process leading to the physical removal of barriers. It aims to deliver a range of confidence and relationship building initiatives within and between interface communities to help them arrive at a position where residents feel it is safe and appropriate for peace walls to come down.
“Although there will be clear criteria for funding, this programme will allow applicants to come up with their own solutions and move at their own pace. It will be flexible by recognising that different communities in Belfast and other areas of Northern Ireland are at various stages of both willingness and readiness to move along this path.”
Initially, £2m has been allocated to the programme but this could be increased depending on the number and quality of applications. Funding will be primarily for confidence and relationship building initiatives. However, the Fund will also consider confidence and relationship building initiatives that include a modest capital dimension, such as providing a shared community space.
The Peace Walls Programme has been devised by the Fund following consultation with all the key stakeholders. Consultations, in particular, with the Department of Justice and the Office of First and Deputy First Minister included the need to dovetail the successful completion of individual initiatives, funded under the programme, with the leverage of additional funding for the removal of physical barriers and any associated infrastructure needs.
The Fund said that the speed at which the programme progresses will largely be dictated by interface communities but it hoped that programme activity will start in June 2012.