It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together.
An amount of £750,000 was allocated this year for the scheme of grants to voluntary bodies in the social services area administered by my Department. Over 600 applications were received from organisations throughout the country for grants under the scheme, including applications from the organisations in question. I am aware of the very valuable work being done by the organisations mentioned by the Deputy and indeed by other voluntary organisations around the country. It was not possible to provide grants for the associations in question this year. In 1987 a grant of £10,000 was made to the Athy branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association. An application for £26,000 was received from the North Kildare branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association at the end of June this year. At this stage the majority of grants to voluntary organisations in the social services area had been approved.
Details of the arrangements for grants under the scheme in 1989 will be announced in the context of the budget and at that stage it will be open to the organisations in question to make a further application for assistance under the scheme.
