Vol. 510 No. 5
190 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the funds, if any, made available to community groups which wish to develop a community directory of services in their area; and if he will give details of these schemes. [22983/99]
The Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs operates a number of once-off grant schemes under which support may be provided to a wide range of locally-based groups involved in anti-poverty work in their communities.
Under one of these schemes, the scheme of grants to voluntary organisations once-off grants may be made available to voluntary organisations and community groups working in disadvantaged groups or in disadvantaged areas. The grants may be made for renovation or acquisition of premises, the purchase of equipment, once-off publications or research or other special projects. Organisations that may apply for funding under this scheme include: community development and area development organisations and groups working in particularly disadvantaged areas; family support groups providing assistance to young families, one-parent families and others in need of special support, whose work is aimed at tackling disadvantage by improving the functioning of the family unit; welfare rights and information groups providing information and support services for the unemployed and other disadvantaged groups; and co-ordinating and umbrella organisations, whose members or affiliate groups work on behalf of disadvantaged communities or groups.
The closing date for applications under the 1999 scheme was 12 March. These applications are still being assessed and details of grants paid will be available in the Oireachtas Library early in the new year.
