Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 26 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 8

Written Answers. - Mahon (Cork) Community Development Project.

Bernard Allen

Question:

56 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his Department will be providing funds for the Mahon Community Development Project in Cork in 1994; and if he will be giving a funding allocation of £50,000 as given in 1993.

Minister for Social Welfare (Dr. Woods)

The Mahon Community Development Project is currently funded under the Department's Community Development Programme which I introduced in 1990. The programme provides financial assistance to projects for the staffing and equipping of local centres which provide a focal point for community development activities in an area. The projects encourage local community and voluntary groups to develop partnerships with each other and statutory agencies in the area with a view to tackling the problems faced by the community.

Projects participating in the programme are funded for three years, which enables them to plan their activities more effectively. The Mahon Project joined the programme in 1992 and has a funding commitment to the end of 1994. They received £30,000 in 1993, i.e. £10,000 per quarter for the period in which they were fully operational and have a commitment to an allocation of £40,000 in a full year.

I am at present reviewing the allocations to projects in the programme in the light of the overall demands on the programme and the applications that have been made by new projects to join the programme and hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.