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.