My Department provides funding for community and voluntary organisations under a range of schemes and programmes. The Department provides these supports in recognition of the important role that voluntary groups have in: improving the quality of peoples' lives; supporting family life and parenting; facilitating local communities address problems facing them and seeking ways to break the poverty cycle and generally developing their community.
Details of all grants paid in 1997 are currently being compiled and will shortly be made available in the Oireachtas Library for the information of members. The 1998 grant scheme was recently advertised and the closing date for receipt of applications is 12 March 1998. No payments have yet been made in respect of that scheme.