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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 6 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Mary Wallace

Question:

124 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare the names of all groups in County Meath which have received grants from his Department in respect of services for people with disabilities; and the amount of each grant. [11833/96]

My Department operates a number of grant schemes for voluntary and community groups, including the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations, scheme of grants for locally-based women's groups, scheme of grants for locally-based men's groups and scheme of grants for lone parents. These are all once-off grant schemes. Details of all grants paid under these various schemes in previous years have been placed in the Oireachtas Library for the information of Members.

These schemes concentrate on providing support for local self-help groups, community development initiatives, welfare rights and information and the provision of seed capital to enable community groups to pilot initiatives identified as meeting new and emerging community needs. Any organisation that feels that it can fulfil these criteria is eligible to apply for funding from my Department under the appropriate scheme. Grants were not paid under these schemes in 1995 to groups in County Meath in respect of services for people with disabilities. The Deputy may wish to note that the Department of Health has responsibility for funding of voluntary organisations providing social services appropriate to the health services. This includes organisations providing services for people with disabilities.

Mary Wallace

Question:

125 Miss M. Wallace asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether organisations such as the Carers' Association are entitled to apply for grants under schemes operated by his Department for information and advice services; and if he has satisfied himself that his Department is giving sufficient assistance to organisations providing such valuable services in the community. [11841/96]

As the Deputy is no doubt aware, agreement was reached last year with my colleague, the Minister for Health, on more appropriate arrangements for the funding of voluntary and community organisations so as to remedy the considerable degree of overlap which existed in the supports provided to voluntary organisations as between my Department and the health services. It was decided that the Department of Health would have exclusive responsibility for the funding of organisations providing personal social services to the elderly, people with mental handicap and physical disabilities and other people needing social services. The Carers' Association, given its primary role of representing the interests and needs of carers in the home, would come within that category.

My Department, on the other hand, now concentrates on support for local self-help groups, community development, welfare rights and information services, and seed money to enable community groups to pilot initiatives identified as meeting new and emerging community needs. Accordingly, in relation specifically to welfare rights and information services, it is open to any voluntary or community organisation to apply to my Department for assistance towards the cost of providing those services. Grants are generally made on a once-off basis to assist with the start-up costs of innovative projects leading to an improvement in the provision of information to disadvantaged groups. However, there is no provision for funding towards the ongoing operating costs of such services.

The Minister of State at my Department, Deputy Durkan, met with the Carers' Association at their request on 4 June 1996 to discuss their work and particularly their funding situation. All applications including the Carers' Association application are examined to identify what entitlement to assistance, if any, there is under various funding schemes, including welfare rights and information services, operated by my Department. Deputies will appreciate that even those applications which are eligible have to be prioritised. In addition the making of grants by the Department of Social Welfare to organisations who do not come within our remit reduces the funds available for those organisations who are eligible.
The Deputy may be assured that I am fully committed to supporting the role of voluntary and community organisations in improving the quality of life for people dependent on social welfare and in empowering them to change their situation for the better.
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