Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

Richard Bruton

Question:

891 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the application for multi-annual core funding made by an organisation (details supplied); if he can give an undertaking that the proposed funding mechanisms under the headings federations and networks and training and supports as published in the White Paper, supporting voluntary activity, will be made available in grant payments before the end of 2001; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1330/01]

Michael Noonan

Question:

893 Mr. Noonan asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the funding he is providing to the Carmichael Centre, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7, in view of a commitment to consider its proposal for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1427/01]

Frances Fitzgerald

Question:

913 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will provide funding to the Carmichael Centre for voluntary groups, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7. [1807/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 891, 893 and 913 together.

Provision was made in budget 2000 for my Department to provide funding of £40,000 in 2000 to the organisation concerned. This allocation was made in recognition of the role of the centre in supporting volunteering through the provision of support to some 100 voluntary organisations, through the use of office facilities, provision of shared premises and the provision of training and organisational supports. This funding was provided on a once-off basis in 2000.

I am aware that the organisation has made a recent application in relation to multi-annual core funding to a number of Departments, including my own. In response to that application, officials from my Department recently met with the director of the organisation. In so far as my Department is concerned we will be considering the application in the context of available resources. These include the £2 million referred to in the question, which has been allocated across a number of Departments.

As outlined in the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector, the criteria for this scheme will be decided in consultation with the implementation and advisory group. This group will be established shortly. These funds will be available in 2001 and I am happy to say that grant payments will be made this year. My Department will be in contact will the group in relation to the outcome of their application as soon as possible.

Question No. 892 answered with Question No. 876.

Question No. 893 answered with Question No. 891.

Question No. 894 answered with Question No. 885.

Nora Owen

Question:

895 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when funding will be made available to the voluntary and community sector in the longer term under the headings of federations and networks and training and supports as published in the White Paper, supporting voluntary activity; when the setting frames of reference and criteria will be in place in order that grant schemes can be published; when voluntary groups will be able to avail of these grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1498/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

As outlined in the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector, the criteria for the scheme to support federations and networks will be decided in consultation with the implementation and advisory group. This group will be established shortly. These funds will be available in 2001 and I am happy to say that grant payments will be made this year.

My Department currently provides funding for training and support to the community and voluntary sector under a range of programmes. These include most notably the scheme of grants for community development education and training and the community development support programmes. The White Paper announced the Government's intention to establish an additional fund of £2 million to develop other support and training to the community and voluntary sector over the next two years.

It is important that these extra resources are used to meet needs, which are not currently being met within existing programmes. The practical steps to ensure this need to be identified. To this end I plan to develop proposals over the next six months, in consultation with groups who will be affected, to provide for the effective and efficient implementation of this decision. Details of how and when this funding may be accessed will be then made available.