Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Mar 1992

Vol. 416 No. 6

Written Answers. - Funding for Voluntary Group.

Michael Creed

Question:

420 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Social Welfare if an application for grant assistance towards the cost of providing wheelchair toilets was received from a group (details supplied) in County Cork; if approval, verbal or otherwise, for the application was given to this group; if he will outline the criterion used by his Department to determine eligibility; the reason this group was not paid a grant; and if a grant will be paid to the group in 1992.

Minister for Social Welfare (Mr. McCreevy)

An application for funding under the 1991 scheme of grants to voluntary social service organisations administered by my Department was received from the organisation in question. A letter issued to the organisation in November informing them that their application had been unsuccessful.

Because of the volume of high quality applications received, it is not always possible to fund every application for a worthwhile project. In the allocation every effort is made to ensure a good geographical spread throughout the country.

I have recently revised the criteria so that a broader range of groups can qualify. Once-off grants may be made to resource and service organisations providing social services which meet need or hardship; mutual support and self-help organisations, such as those sharing advice and information or providing support networks to disadvantaged groups; community/area based development organisations operating in disadvantaged areas or with disadvantaged groups; and co-ordinating organisations whose members or affiliated groups work on behalf of disadvantaged people.

The 1992 scheme was recently advertised in the national papers. Information on the scheme, together with an application form, have issued to the organisation in question.