Vol. 483 No. 3
310 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his Department has received an application in 1997 from a group (details supplied) in Dublin 5 for funding under the voluntary and community grants scheme; if so, if a decision has been made in this case; if the application has been referred to the Eastern Health Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20226/97]
An application for funding under the scheme of grants to locally based women's groups administered by my Department has been received from the council for the co-ordination of social services. The group have applied for some £1,700 in respect of the cost of fitting the centre's chairs with new covers.
The group were referred to the then Department of Health and the health boards on 14 May 1997 on the grounds that provision of services for the elderly was the responsibility of that Department. It subsequently came to light that the centre was providing services to a wide range of community organisations and was therefore eligible to apply for funding under the grants scheme operated by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
A large number of applications have been received under the scheme and they are being processed at present. My Department will contact the Council for the co-ordination of Social Services shortly regarding their application.
