, Limerick East): No new grant schemes have been approved by my Department or its subordinate agencies since December 1994. However, a number of pre-existing social welfare schemes were transferred to my Department in 1995. These are: respite care scheme; funding for the organisations providing personal social services to the elderly and other persons with handicaps and disabilities.
The purpose of these schemes is to provide once off grants to voluntary organisations for community based projects. The maximum grant payable in any particular case would be 90 per cent of the cost of the project. Funding is being targeted at the following areas: physical handicap; mental handicap services; psychiatric services; services for the elderly; women's refuge; child care services; personal social services, including information and counselling services.