Written Answers - Grant Schemes.
Trevor Sargent
Question:
208
Mr. Sargent
asked the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform
the nature of each grant scheme operated by his Department since the formation of the Government; the objective of the scheme; and the name of each body or individual grant aided under each scheme.
[25945/98]
While my Department does not operate any grant schemes as such, it does provide funding for a wide range of initiatives. Information in relation to the initiatives in question is as follows.
National Women's Council of Ireland
My Department pays an annual grant to the National Women's Council of Ireland towards general operating costs. The amount provided for in 1999 includes funding for general running costs and funding for a joint North-South conference to be organised in 1999 on mainstreaming/gender equality work.
Equal Opportunity Child care Programme
In 1994, a pilot child care initiative was designed and was continued in each subsequent year, up to and including 1997. The initiative was intended to assist projects for the establishment, on a pilot basis, of childcare measures utilising the skills of trained local people, to enable local residents to undertake education, training, retraining and employment opportunities which they would otherwise be unable to do, in the absence of a childcare facility. It was a condition of the initiative that grants were confined to groups in disadvantaged areas which were defined as those areas in which there were Area Based Partnerships/local community groups.
As Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, I sought and obtained Government approval for the conversion of the pilot child care initiative into an equal opportunity child care programme. This programme is designed to support local communities and employers who are trying to facilitate women and men who have childcare responsibilities while accessing training, education and employment. It is targeted particularly at parents in disadvantaged areas and those in low pay who cannot access training, education and employment opportunities due to lack of affordable good quality childcare. In July of this year I announced expenditure on this programme, including EU funding, over the 1998-9 period. This funding is being provided to the following three initiatives. On capital infrastructure, money is being targeted at community childcare projects to enable them to upgrade-enhance their facilities or establish new purpose built facilities for women and men who need child care while they are at work or availing of training; some 90 community projects are in receipt of funding. On core funding, this fund is being used to provide support to meet the expenditure required for full-time senior childcare works in community childcare projects with a focus on equal opportunities and disadvantage; some 25 flagship projects are in receipt of funding. The employer demonstration childcare initiative is being developed in partnership with IBEC to stimulate employer interest and involvement in supporting equal opportunity childcare facilities; some 21 companies, forming eight consortiums, are in receipt of funding. I will arrange to have a list of the projects being funded under the equal opportunities child care programme sent to the Deputy.
Irish Council of People with Disabilities (Interim)
My Department furnishes an annual grant to the council to assist it in the performance of the tasks assigned to it by its constitution, which include the establishment of a permanent council which will act as the representative voice of people with disabilities.
Pilot Community Services Projects
My Department provides funds to Area Development Management Ltd. (three projects) and to the Disabled People of Clare (one project) for four pilot projects designed to facilitate access at local level to information in accessible formats and to promote participation by people with disabilities in the local decision making process.
Pilot Community Action Plan
My Department also provides funds to Area Development Management Ltd. for two pilot projects designed to facilitate cross-sectoral planning at local level for the delivery of services to people with disabilities.
Legal Aid Board.
The grant-in-aid made to the Legal Aid Board is provided to enable it to carry out its function as required under the Civil Legal Aid Act, 1995. Under this Act the principal function of the board is to provide, within the board's resources and subject to the other provisions of the Act, legal aid and advice in civil cases to persons who satisfy the requirements of the Act.
Apart from the civil legal aid scheme, the Legal Aid Board has agreed to operate the refugee legal service for which separate funding is being made available.
FLAC.
An annual grant is paid to FLAC. Because of specific difficulties which FLAC encountered in late 1991 and early 1992, the then Minister for Justice undertook to provide them with financial assistance on an annual basis. Funding has been made available to FLAC since that time.
Marriage and Child Counselling Grants
The Department administered a scheme of grants to those voluntary organisations which provided marriage counselling and also to those voluntary organisations which provided counselling to children whose parents had separated. On and from 1 January 1998 responsibility for administration of this scheme transferred to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. The following is a list of organisations which benefited under the scheme of grants in 1997:
County Carlow
— St. Catherines Community Services Centre, St. Joseph's Road, Carlow.
County Cavan
— ACCORD, Cana House, Farnham Street, Cavan.
County Clare
— ACCORD, Ennis Centre, Harmony Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.
— Centre for Counselling and Human Development, 5 Cottage Gardens, Station Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.
County Cork
— ACCORD, Parochial House, Castlemagner, Mallow, Co. Cork.
— The Counselling Centre, 7, Fr. Matthew Street, Cork.
— Cork Marriage Counselling Centre, 34 Paul St. Cork.
— Bantry Marriage Counselling Centre, St. Finbarr's Church, Bantry, Co. Cork.
— NAOM I, 36 Washington Street, Cork.
— Newbury House Family Centre, Old Youghal Road, Mayfield, Cork.
— Skibbereen Marriage Counselling Centre, North St., Skibbereen, Co. Cork.
County Donegal
— ACCORD, Arus Mhic Fhicheallaigh, Derrybeg, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
— ACCORD, Diocesan Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny, County Donegal.
— ACCORD, Teagasc Centre, Doonan, Donegal Town.
— ACCORD, lnishowen, Pastoral Centre, Barrack Hill, Carndonagh, Co. Donegal.
— Family Ministry Support & Development Group, Family Ministry Centre, Pastoral Centre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
County Dublin
— ACCORD, Head Office, All Hallows College, Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
— Holy Trinity Support Group, c/o Holy Trinity School, Grange Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
— Gingerbread Ireland Ltd, 29-30 Dame St., Dublin 2.
— Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 20 Molesworth St., Dublin 2.
— Clanwilliam Institute, 18 Clanwilliam Terrace, Dublin 2.
— National Association for Deaf People, 35 North Frederick St., Dublin 1.
— NAOM I, 16 North Great George's Street, Dublin 1.
— TARGET, St. Kevin's School, Newbrook Road, Donaghmede, Dublin 13.
— St. Anne's Family Resource Centre, Fettercairn, Tallaght, Dublin 24.
— ELAH Voluntary Counselling Service, 48 Hamilton Street, Dublin 8.
— OASIS Counselling Service, 1 Drumfinn Park, Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.
— Fingal Counselling Service, c/o "Killeen" Rathbeale, Swords, Co. Dublin.
— New Day Counselling Centre, 11 Meath Street, Dublin 8.
— Corduff Counselling Service, 10 Corduff Grove, Corduff, Dublin 15.
— Northside Counselling Centre, Coolock Development Centre, Bunratty Drive, Coolock, Dublin 17.
— Aoibhneas Women's Refuge, Kilmore Road, Coolock, Dublin 5.
— AIM. Family Services, 6, D'Olier St., Dublin 2.
— Mater Dei Counselling Centre, Clonliffe Rd, Dublin 3.
— Retrouvaille Ireland, St. Audeon's High Street, Dublin 8.
— Marriage Counselling Service Ltd, 24 Grafton Street, Dublin 2.
— Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre, 41 Upper Gardiner St., Dublin 1.
— ACCORD, 39 Harcourt St. Dublin 2.
— Arduna Ltd., 55 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3.
— Newlands Institute for Counselling, 2 Monastery Rd., Clondalkin, Dublin 22.
— Hesed House, 74 Tyrconnell Road, lnchicore, Dublin 8.
— Barnardos, Christchurch Square, Dublin 9.
County Galway
— ACCORD, Arus de Brun, Newtownsmith, Galway.
— ACCORD, Cathedral Terrace, Tuam, Co. Galway.
— Galway Family Guidance Institute, Arus de Brun, Newtownsmith, Galway.
— Forum, Ellis Hall, Letterfrack, Co. Galway.
— ACCORD, Family Centre, Brackernagh, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
County Kerry
— ACCORD, The Pastoral Centre, Rock Road, Killarney, Co. Kerry.
— ACCORD, St. John's Pastoral Centre, Castle St. Tralee, Co. Kerry.
County Kildare
— ACCORD, Parish Centre, Newbridge, Co. Kildare.
—‘Rainbows', c/o Presentation Convent, Kildare Town, Co. Kildare.
County Kilkenny
— ACCORD, St. Mary's Centre, James's, St., Kilkenny.
County Laois
— ACCORD, St. Joseph's, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
County Limerick
— ACCORD, Limerick Centre, 66 O'Connell St. Limerick.
— ACCORD, Parish Centre, Newcastle West, Co. Limerick.
— The CARI Foundation, CARI House, 2 Garryowen Road, Saint John's, Limerick.
County Longford
— ACCORD, Family Centre, St. Mel's Road, Longford.
County Louth
— Dundalk Christian Counselling Centre, Ardee Terrace, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
— ACCORD, St. Patricks Grounds, Roden Place, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
— Dundalk Counselling Centre, "Oakdene", 3 Seatown Place, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
— Family of God Community, Bethany House of Prayer, Castle St., Dundalk, Co. Louth.
— ACCORD, "Verona", Cross Lanes, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
— Drogheda Community Services Trust, Villa Maria, 57 Fair Street, Drogheda, Co. Louth.
County Mayo
— ACCORD, Pastoral Centre, Cathedral Grounds, Ballina, Co. Mayo.
— ACCORD, Castle Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
— Knock Counselling Centre, Knock Shrine, Co Mayo.
— ACCORD, Pastoral Centre, Charlestown, Co. Mayo.
— Family Life Services, Family Centre, Chapel Street, Castlebar, Co. Mayo.
County Meath
— ACCORD, CYMS Hall, Fair Green, Navan, Co. Meath.
— Family Ministry, Dowdstown House, Dalgan Park, Navan, Co. Meath.
— Navan Women's Shared Parenting Group, 10 St. Patrick's Terrace, Navan, Co. Meath.
County Monaghan
— ACCORD, St. Macartan's College, Monaghan, Co. Monaghan.
County Offaly.
— ACCORD, St. Brigid's Place, Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
County Roscommon
— The Family Life Centre, Knockashee, Boyle, Co. Roscommon.
— The Family Ministry Centre, Convent of Mercy, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon.
— The Family Institute of Achonry, Ballaghadereen, Co. Roscommon.
— Vita House, Abbey Street, Roscommon.
— ACCORD, St. Coman's Club, Abbey Street, Roscommon.
County Sligo
— ACCORD, Social Service Centre, Charles St. Sligo.
— St. Michael's Family Life Centre, Church Hill, Sligo.
County Tipperary
— ACCORD, St. Patricks College, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.
— ACCORD, Plunkett House, Shower, Newport. Co. Tipperary.
— ACCORD, Loreto House, Kenyon St. Nenagh, Co. Tipperary.
— ACCORD, St. Mary's Pastoral Centre, lrishtown, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.
— Knockanrawley Resource Centre Ltd., Knockanrawley, Tipperary Town.
County Waterford
— ACCORD, 4 Georges Street, Waterford.
— St. Brigid's Family & Community Centre, 37 Lr. Yellow Rd. Waterford.
— Dungarvan Family Centre Ltd., Mitchell Street, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.
County Westmeath
— ACCORD, Social Services Centre, Bishopsgate St. Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
— Athlone Community Services Council, Dr. Dobbs Memorial Home, Northgate Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
— ACCORD, "Alverna", Northgate Street, Athlone, Co. Westmeath.
—"Bethany", Bishopsgate Street, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
County Wexford
— Family Life Service, St. Briget's Centre, Roches Rd, Wexford.
National Consultative Committee on Racism and lnterculturalism
My Department allocated funding for the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism in 1998 and increased funding has been allocated for 1999.
The committee is operating as a partnership between non-governmental organisations, state agencies, social partners and Government Departments and will advise the Government on matters relating to racism and responses to it.
Garda Special Projects
My Department also funds a network of Garda special projects which are targeted at juveniles at risk of becoming involved in crime. There are currently fourteen such projects being funded. In this regard I am pleased to inform the Deputy that I will be making a statement later today in relation to the establishment of a further six projects.
Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Chief Superintendents
Both the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Association of Chief Superintendents receive an annual grant towards running costs of the associations.
Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO).
My Department has paid a grant to the ICPO for each of the years 1997 and 1998. This grant is to assist the ICPO with publishing costs etc. for their quarterly newsletter which is circulated to prisoners abroad. An additional grant was provided in 1998 towards the cost of hosting a meeting of the EGPA (European Group for Prisoners Abroad).
Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)
This annual grant is to aid the IPRT in their objectives which are as follows: Promote the constructive treatment of all offenders; Further public knowledge of the penal system in Ireland; Generate rational discussion and debate on the Irish penal system; Provide objective research and analysis of Irish penal policy
Probation and Welfare Service
There are also a number of schemes funded by my Department under the probation and welfare service and I will write to the Deputy with the information required in this regard.
Irish Refugee Council
During the period January to September, 1997, my Department provided financial assistance to the Irish Refugee Council for a legal project which provided advice to asylum seekers at the first stage of the asylum process. The Irish Refugee Council withdrew from the scheme with effect from 1 October 1997. in addition my Department is funding for the period 1 April 1998 to 31 March, 1999 a U.N.H.C.R. representative to assist the setting up of procedures and the training of staff in the asylum area.
My Department also provides funding by way of grants-in-aid to various organisations. These are outlined in the estimates for the Votes for which my Department is responsible.
