Up to £2.75m in extra funding has been made available for groups working with victims and survivors of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, it was announced today.
There will also be a doubling in the amount available to the Community Relations Council for a scheme which supports groups and other voluntary organisations working with victims and survivors.
Individual victims will benefit from more than £900,000 of funding to be delivered through the Northern Ireland Memorial Fund, the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister added.
First Minister Peter Robinson said: “The Executive published its budget in January which included a total of £36m over three years for victims and survivors.
“We have now begun the process of allocating that money to schemes and programmes which directly assist those who have suffered.
“This sends a clear message to all victims and survivors that their needs are a priority for this government.”
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said the groups provided a vital service.
“We have heard at first hand the difficulties these groups face and we have acted,” he said.
“We have sought to increase the funding available and to ensure that there is a smooth transition between the Peace II and Peace III (European post-conflict) support packages.”
PA
