Vol. 524 No. 2
357 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the schemes and supports available from his Department or agencies under the aegis of his Department to schools, businesses, community groups and individuals, to promote information technology including (i) greater awareness of relevance, (ii) to develop skills and (iii) have access to computers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22102/00]
My Department has for a number of years operated a range of grants schemes and community development support 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 and emerging community needs. Community groups seeking funding under the various grants schemes operated by my Department are required to have an anti-poverty focus and to promote the participation of people experiencing poverty and social exclusion. The focus of these schemes and programmes is on supporting locally based groups to address disadvantage and social exclusion through a range of self-help initiatives.
While promotion of information technology is not the main focus of these schemes and programmes, groups may seek support for IT training and provision of IT equipment to use, as one of the many approaches, in addressing such exclusion and disadvantage.
In assessing such applications my Department must establish the extent to which the applicant groups, and the particular project for which funding is sought, addresses such poverty and exclusion. In allocating funding it is also necessary to take account of the overall demands under the schemes and the level of funding available to meet these demands. In addition, grant support is also available to voluntary organisations providing marriage, child and bereavement counselling services.
Funding is also provided by my Department, £5.2 million this year, to the new information organisation, Comhairle, which was established earlier this year. Comhairle will combine the functions of the former National Social Service Board with relevant functions of the former National Rehabilitation Board to form a new mainstream organisation.
