Vol. 535 No. 1
444 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will approve the maximum grant possible under the scheme for funding for voluntary and community groups for a group (details supplied) in County Mayo. [11526/01]
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. The 2001 scheme of grants was advertised extensively in the national and provincial newspapers earlier this year. The western regional office of my Department received an application for funding, under the scheme of supports for community development and family support groups, from the group indicated in the Deputy's question. 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 scheme. My Department will be in touch with the group in due course regarding its application.
