Thomas P. Broughan
Question:43 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will review the decision to exclude Coolock Development Council from the 1998 scheme of grants to voluntary organisations. [10348/99]
Written Answers. - Community Support Services.
The Department's grant schemes concentrate on support for local self-help groups, community development, welfare rights and information work. These grant schemes are aimed at developing people and their capacity to participate in society, rather than at the provision of services or at direct economic development or job creation initiatives.
Grants are not available from my Department for projects which come within the remit of other statutory agencies. Many applications, however, seek assistance for projects that span the remit of a number of Departments/agencies. For example, applications are frequently received under the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations for large grants towards the cost of the renovation or acquisition of premises to serve as a community facility for various local groups. In such cases my Department's approach is to consider what aspects of the proposed work or projects come within the terms of its support schemes for community development and – subject to the overall resources that are available – consider providing funding assistance with that portion of the overall project. However, in such cases my Department's assistance is made subject to the balance of the necessary funds being raised from other sources and this is the situation that pertains in this specific case.
The group named in the Deputy's question provides accommodation and services for a range of groups which operate in the areas of enterprise, personal social services, culture, child care, health and education – for which funding is provided by a number of Departments and agencies, including the Eastern Health Board, programme for local urban and rural development, Department of Education and Science and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform – as well as community development work with disadvantaged communities, for which my Department provides funding.
In 1996, the group applied under the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations for a grant of £117,966 towards renovations at their premises. To put that in context, the entire allocation under that scheme in the Dublin North region in that year was some £160,000. Following discussions and correspondence with the group concerned, a further application was received in 1997 for funding of £53,000 towards the overall cost of almost £80,000 of window replacements, an upgrading of the existing heating systems and repairs to the heating system.
The group concerned had managed to secure a total of £33,000 towards this project through their area partnership and People in Need. In assessing the application my Department took account: of the funding already secured by the group towards the cost of the project, the activities of the group that may be appropriate to my Department, of the overall level of resources available to the Department and the demands to be met. Having considered these issues it was possible for my Department to allocate a substantial grant – £40,000 – on foot of this application. However, I must emphasise that substantial level of funding was made available on a once-off basis only. The focus of the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations is on making relatively small grants to a wide range of groups.
In 1998 an application for a further £40,000 was received from the group concerned towards the cost of structural repairs and external painting of the building and the completion of the window replacements. The application was considered carefully, but was not recommended for funding, having regard to the range of activities taking place in the centre, the level of support already provided and the many other worthwhile applications received from groups in Dublin North that merited financial support.