Although the British Council is cutting back on its activities throughout Europe, the Dublin office will remain open but with a slightly smaller staff, a spokesman said yesterday.
Founded in 1934, the council seeks to promote cultural and educational relations between Great Britain and other countries. Chaired by the former British Labour Party leader, Lord Kinnock, the council has decided to put more resources into its work in mainly-Muslim countries of the Middle East and Central Asia.
As a result of savings made on its activities in Europe, the council will be able to devote an additional £7.5 million (€11 million) to its work in Bahrain, Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Uzbekistan and Yemen.
Confirming that British Council Ireland would continue in operation, with a full-time staff of three, the director Tony Reilly said there would be a "much more explicit North-South focus to our programme". The British Council also has offices in Belfast.
The Dublin office will work with organisations such as Cooperation Ireland and the Centre for Cross-Border Studies to promote North-South relations on the island in what Mr Reilly called an "Ireland-wide approach".
British Council Ireland has been engaged in a wide range of cultural activities including the publication of two volumes of essays under the general title of Britain and Ireland: Lives Entwined which explored the complex relationship between the two islands; co-sponsoring an international writing fellowship at Trinity College Dublin; co-hosting environmental events with the Cultivate Centre in Temple Bar; and jointly organising the Anne Maguire Journalism Conference with Cooperation Ireland, The Irish Times, the News Letter and the Irish News.
"Much of this work, particularly the North-South and British-Irish focus, will continue, along with a increased involvement in multilateral European projects," Mr Reilly said.