Vol. 511 No. 1
45 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has for the development of the community development programme from January 2000, particularly with regard to funding for community projects, in the context of the social economy and the new national development plan. [23611/99]
66 Mr. McDowell asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the submission, if any, he has made in the context of the national development plan with regard to an urgent strategic investment package for disadvantaged communities which have benefited little from current growth in national income and where there is great uncertainty regarding the future of community development projects. [23622/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 66 together.
There is no uncertainty regarding future funding of projects funded by my Department under the CDP. CDP projects are funded on the basis of three year, renewable contracts.
The national development plan was published on Monday and contains a substantial commitment to social inclusion measures.
The package reflects my own input, both in respect of issues relevant to my Department and in respect of wider issues as a member of the Cabinet Sub-committee on Social Inclusion. In so far as the community development programme is concerned the plan contains, as I have already announced, an allocation of £100 million for the community development programmes operated by my Department. This is some £2 million initially and rises to some £4 million more per annum than the 1999 provision. The allocation will provide enhanced funding over the lifetime of the plan for the three programmes of core-funding for community development operated by my Department as follows: community development programme, family and community services resource centre programme, core funded community and family support groups programme.
