Paul Bradford
Question:354 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if funding will be provided for a community group (details supplied) in County Cork. [23389/01]
Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.
David Stanton
Question:355 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when he received applications from Youghal and District Community Project for funding for staff costs and running costs of a resource centre; the reason for the delay in providing support for the various groups in Youghal; the amount of funding which he will make available; the timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22744/01]
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:368 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will consider making funding available to a project (details supplied) in County Cork. [23212/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 354, 355 and 368 together.
An application seeking inclusion in my Department's community development programme was received from Youghal and District Community Development Group in December 1997. A similar application was also received from another community group in Youghal. As my Department was committed to expanding the community development programme under Partnership 2000, in 1998 I approved the commissioning of research to identify 30 priority areas for inclusion in the programme. To ensure that resources could be targeted at the most disadvantaged areas, it was decided to await the outcome of this research before proceeding with either application from the Youghal area. This research or pro-active targeting exercise identified Youghal as an area in need of assistance under the community development programme.
The Regional Support Agency, which is contracted by my Department to undertake the necessary pre-development work for groups or areas approved for inclusion in the community development support programmes, was engaged to begin the process of establishing a community development project in Youghal. This project was to be a broad-based community project serving the community development needs of Youghal rather than being made up solely of the members of either of the applicant groups.
The pre-development work, which included consultations with both groups, resulted in the formation of a management committee for the CDP to be funded by my Department. This project, now known as Cumann na Daoine, has a management committee which comprises members of Youghal and District Community Development Project and other local groups and individuals in the area. The pre-development work with this group to establish a CDP in Youghal is in progress but is not yet complete. My Department is awaiting receipt of a three year workplan which I understand may be concluded by the end of the year. Funding of up to £43,100 in respect of core costs, such as staff, programme and operating costs will be made available to Cumann na Daoine in its first year of operation, once a satisfactory workplan has been received, a contract has been agreed with the project and the group have completed a recruitment process.
As my Department is committed to supporting Cumann na Daoine as the community development project for Youghal, it is not possible to provide funding for an additional project in the area. My Department is, however, anxious that the pre-development work and preparation of the workplan necessary for Cumann na Daoine's full participation in the programme, be progressed, so that a contract can be issued and a worker employed at an early date. Cumann na Daoine has been advised that incidental expenses, including room hire, where appropriate, deemed necessary to conclude the pre-development phase, will be considered by my Department.