Vol. 444 No. 1
26 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to recent criticism made by Threshold of what it described as the erratic approach to funding for voluntary groups in the housing sector; the plans, if any, he has to place the funding of such groups on a more satisfactory basis, in view of the important work they undertake; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department makes grants towards the administrative and general expenses of a number of approved organisations providing representative, information, advice or research services in the housing field. Threshold is one such approved organisation and has been in receipt of grant assistance from my Department every year since 1982. The reported comments by Threshold followed payment of an initial grant instalment of £20,000 for 1994 but before the final allocation for the organisation was determined. Since then, Threshold have been informed that their 1994 allocation is £100,000, the highest ever grant for any organisation, and an increase of £30,000 on the 1993 figure. It is, of course, not possible to give commitments of grant aid beyond the current year.
