Vol. 518 No. 3
223 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has received a grant application from a group (details supplied) which assists people with disabilities in the area of the arts; and if he has made any decision on this matter. [11548/00]
My Department operates a range of grants schemes and programmes which concentrate on a wide range of support for local self-help groups, community development, welfare rights and information work, and on the provision of seed money to enable community groups to pilot initiatives identified as meeting new emerging community needs. To be eligible for funding, groups must subscribe to a self-help community development ethos and must involve intended beneficiaries in the management and design of the project. Grants are not available from my Department towards services that are deemed the responsibility of other Departments or statutory agencies.
The scheme of grants to voluntary organisations operated by my Department provides once-off grants to voluntary and community groups working with disadvantaged groups or in disadvantaged areas, towards renovation or acquisition of premises, the purchase of equipment or transport, once-off publications, research or other special projects. The types of groups eligible for funding under this scheme are community development and area development organisations, family support groups, welfare rights and information groups, mutual support and self-help organisations and co-ordinating and umbrella organisations.
Under the scheme of grants to locally-based community and family support groups funding may be made available to locally-based groups involved in programmes of self-help and personal development designed to tackle poverty and disadvantage and improve family life.
I can confirm that the Dublin north regional office of my Department received applications under both schemes from the group concerned. As a large number of applications have been received and will take time to process, it is not possible to indicate at this stage if funding can be allocated to the group under this year's schemes. However, my Department will be in touch with the group in due course regarding its applications.
