Press release
Minister Byrne announces grants for 2021 Communicating Europe Initiative scheme
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne TD, today congratulated 28 NGOs, local community groups, educational institutes and local media organisations who have been awarded funding under the Department of Foreign Affairs 2021 Communicating Europe Initiative scheme.
Projects funded this year include several local radio series on the EU’s impact on Irish communities being produced by Dublin City FM, Radio Kerry and KCLR, an EU TV Junior Youtube channel for primary schools created by University College Cork, a research event on lessons from EU peacebuilding organised by the Irish Association for Contemporary European Studies, a Future of Europe podcast series hosted by The European Network, an interactive online EU Policy map produced by the DCU Brexit Institute, as well as a number of 2nd and 3rd level EU education and community projects in counties across the country.
Commenting on the initiative, Minister Byrne said:
"As we engage with the Conference on the Future of Europe, I’m very excited about the range of projects put forward this year under the Communicating Europe Initiative, including the impressive numbers of counties involved. Last year, the virtual nature of CEI projects allowed us to reach out to much greater numbers of Irish citizens from diverse backgrounds than in the past. I am confident this level of engagement will continue as we initiate our national discussions on the role of Europe in our lives, and our communities, in the years to come."
Minister of State Byrne also added:
"As key beneficiaries of EU support, our communities and civil society groups, from the grassroots to the national level, are very well placed to communicate the significant impact that our EU membership has had in shaping our society. I am looking forward to meeting some of our CEI partners this year and getting involved with their exciting projects."
The Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI) was established in 1995 to raise awareness about the European Union and to improve the quality and accessibility of public information on European issues. The programme is administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
This year, funding of €105,000 has been provided for 28 Communicating Europe Initiative funded projects.
The full list of successful projects is as follows –
Local community groups - Ballinderreen Community Centre (Galway), Inniscarra Twinning Association (Cork), IRD Duhallow (Cork) and Portlaoise Community and Family Resource Centre (Laois) and Twilight Community Group (Kilkenny).
primary and 2nd level schools projects - European Youth Parliament Ireland (Regional Youth Debates), Gaelcholaiste na Mara (Wicklow), Ionad Naomh Fionnán (Donegal), Junior Achievement Ireland (Galway/Mayo), Our Lady’s Secondary School (Monaghan), Corran College (Sligo) and Waterford SLí (European Unity: Lessons from Folklore creative workshops).
3rd Level projects/Education and training - Audrey Galvin/University of Limerick (Journalism course and competition for UL media students) and Cork Education and Training Board (Promoting the EU’s impact on Education and Training).
Local radio EU programmes - Dublin City FM and Radio Kerry are producing are series of programmes/podcasts on what has the EU done for their regions. Kilkenny/Carlow Local Radio will produce a radio series on the EU and the environment.
Media projects - Áine Ryall/University College Cork (podcasts on EU Environment Policies), Design and Crafts Council Ireland (podcast series on the New European Bauhaus), The Mayo News (Mayo and the EU) and Emmanuelle Schon-Quinlivan/University College Cork (EU TV Junior – YouTube videos on EU for primary schools).
Future of Europe/EU policies – Cork Chamber of Commerce (Cork’s Place in Europe – Youth survey and outreach event), DCU Brexit Institute (interactive map of the EU), The European Network (Future of Europe podcast series), Irish Council for Civil Liberties (Defending the Rule of Law: The role of the EU), Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership/Children’s Rights Alliance (Youth Responses to the EU Strategy on the Rights of the Child).
EU Peacebuilding and NI – International Association for Contemporary European Studies (Relationship on these Islands – EU Peacebuilding Experiences).
Regional bodies – The Irish Regions European Office (Connecting the EU policies and funding with local communities – outreach events).