Tánaiste announces €4 million in funding under the Reconciliation Fund for 2025

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris TD, has announced funding of over €4 million for 177 projects following the 2025 annual round of the Reconciliation Fund. The fund, administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, supports civil society organisations in creating a better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain.

Announcing the grants, the Tánaiste said: “I am delighted to announce funding for 177 projects, amounting to just over €4 million, from the Reconciliation Fund. The 177 projects will be delivered by organisations working primarily in Northern Ireland, between and across communities and traditions, across a wide range of sectors – from Education and Culture, to Legacy and Community; from Women to Youth, to Policy and Academia. These projects will be implemented all across Northern Ireland.

“The Reconciliation Fund is an important part of the Government’s approach to working with all communities and political traditions. This latest round of funding demonstrates in a practical and tangible way the Government’s commitment to peace and reconciliation on the island of Ireland.

“Civil society organisations played a vital role in creating the conditions for peace in Northern Ireland. They are just as vital as we work to secure and build on that peace.

“I look forward to visiting some of these projects and seeing first-hand the meaningful and impactful work being carried out by these hard-working groups.”

The Tánaiste also spoke of the plans of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to open a public consultation to help inform development of a new Reconciliation Fund strategy.

“In the next week, I will launch a public consultation to invite views on a new Reconciliation Fund strategy. It is essential that the work of the Fund in coming years is informed by relevant stakeholders. This consultation will give a chance to share thoughts and ideas about how we can help to make a difference in building peace and reconciliation across communities.”

Notes to Editors

Since its establishment in 1982, the Reconciliation Fund has provided more than €65 million to over 3,000 projects – the majority of grants awarded to groups working within Northern Ireland.

The Reconciliation Fund supports civil society organisations in creating a better understanding between people and traditions on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain.

The Fund awards grants to between 120-200 projects each year, supporting initiatives across, but not limited to, the community, voluntary, and higher education sectors.

The overall budget for the Reconciliation Fund in 2025 is €7.045m and the Programme for Government has committed to an increase over its lifetime. The Government increased the Fund’s budget in recent years, to €7.045m in 2024, up from €2.7m in 2018.

Supported projects will be delivered over a wide geographic area, predominantly in Northern Ireland. Projects delivered within the Belfast City Council area represent the largest regional category (86 projects), followed by Derry City & Strabane Council area (26 projects).

The following are some examples of successful applicants in 2025:

FactCheckNI, led by Dr Ona Young, is Northern Ireland’s only, dedicated fact-checking organisation, which is committed to tackling the issue of bad information and intentional disinformation to improve the standard of information available to all citizens. Funding has been granted to increase the organisation’s fact-checking output and to deliver additional training. Approved grant: €23,589

Nerve Centre in Belfast have been granted funding for their ‘Outpouring’ project, bringing students from 8 schools together to work on a digital media based collaborative project focussed on themes of Reconciliation and Peace that will also include a major new installation at Riddel’s Warehouse in Belfast. Approved grant: €46,396

An Gaeláras have been granted funding for their ‘Droichead Project’ Irish Language Outreach Programme, which provides Irish language classes and events aimed at engaging non-traditional learners of the language. Approved grant: €59,104

ICBAN, a local authority led organisation based in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, have been granted part-funding which will also contribute to their core salary costs. This organisation fulfils an important function in bringing together local elected representatives from across the regions and helping to develop cooperative political relationships at the local level. Approved grant: €60,000

Geography Publications have been granted funding for the publication of the final volume of the Irish County History & Society Series, which will focus on Co. Antrim. The publication will provide a narrative of the political, social, and economic history and diversity of the County. Approved grant: €3,000

The City Centre Initiative in Derry has been granted funding for their cross-community activities designed to promote the vitality and viability of Derry city centre. Approved grant: €20,000

WAVE Trauma Centre have been granted funding towards a project that seeks to offer weekend trauma informed support to those directly affected by the Troubles. Approved grant: €51,699

Ulster Badminton have been granted funding for an afterschool’s badminton programme across the North West, engaging schools from cross-community backgrounds, providing them with badminton sessions alongside good relations workshops. Approved grant: €9,430

Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid have been granted funding for a project supporting women from across communities. Approved grant: €21,000

ENDS

Press Office

1 July 2025