Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 3 Dec 1996

Vol. 472 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

Rory O'Hanlon

Question:

58 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Taoiseach the amount of funding available to his Department or to the agencies under the aegis of his Department for recreation and community facilities; the source of such funding; the amount allocated to-date in 1996; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23098/96]

The Taoiseach

The Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development provides funding, through ADM, for local development plans devised by local partnerships and community groups. The range of activities eligible for support include enterprise creation and development, environmental and infrastructural works, education and training, services to the unemployed and community development.

As this is a decentralised programme my Department does not have a direct function in regard to the specific activities funded. Accordingly, it is not possible to provide details of funding allocated for recreation and community facilities by each of the local groups. Such activities may be funded if they come within the broad parameters of eligibility under the operational programme.

There was provision made in the 1996 Estimate of the Department of the Taoiseach for a grant scheme for special projects in support of local development. The total amount of funding available in 1996 is £250,000.

The overall purpose of these funds is to assist the process of socio-economic development at local level to complement the measures funded under the Operational Programme for Local Urban and Rural Development and to focus in particular on areas and communities suffering severe disadvantage.

Approximately £10,000 has been allocated to date in 1996 for the restoration of a building to accommodate small voluntary groups who wish to provide services such as training and self-help programmes.