asked the Minister for Social Welfare if the £1 million allocated to combat poverty for 1985 has been spent; if not, the purpose for which he intends to use these funds; if he will accept the recommendation made by the Interim Combat Poverty Board to allocate the fund to those groups which were specially selected but failed to get funding from the European poverty programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Combat Poverty Funding.
13.
A limited amount only of the sum provided in this year's Estimate for an anti-poverty programme has so far been spent, mainly in connection with the preparations for the EC Poverty Programme. It is proposed to make grants from the provision to the eight projects approved by the EC Commission for inclusion in the programme to enable the projects to commence as soon as possible, as it appears unlikely that any EC moneys will be available this year. The possibility of granting assistance to projects not included in the EC Programme is under consideration.
The Minister has not really answered my question in relation to the recommendation which the Combat Poverty Committee have made to the Minister — and after all the Minister, Deputy Desmond, appointed this board to advise him — as to how the £1 million should be spent, given that the year is now drawing to a close. Is it the Minister's intention to accept the recommendation of the board which he set up? I understand that he has had this recommendation available to him for some time.
I have said that it is proposed to make grants available from the provision to the eight projects approved by the EC Commission and that the possibility is under consideration of granting assistance to projects not included in that programme. I take it that is what the Deputy is referring to.
The eight projects selected are being funded by the European Poverty Programme. The money to which I am referring is that set aside by the Government for the Combat Poverty Scheme, which is a separate scheme. The Combat Poverty Committee sent their recommendation in writing to the Minister as to how that money should be spent. I am simply asking is it the intention to accept that recommendation and make that money available to the projects recommended by the Combat Poverty Committee.
The possibility of granting assistance to the other projects not included in the EC programme — and I take it those are the projects to which the Deputy is referring — but recommended by the Combat Poverty Committee to the Minister is under consideration.
When will a decision be made? The matter must be under consideration for some time now.
I am not in a position to state that.