Vol. 544 No. 3
160 Mr. Perry asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the level of funding which will be allocated to County Sligo in the social economy programme; the number of working grants which have been established in areas of economic and social disadvantage; the amount being spent nationally and in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28814/01]
It is expected that the social economy programme will disburse £5.2 million in 2001, considerably less than was allowed in the Revised Estimates in March this year. This is because the uptake of grants under the social economy programme has been slower than anticipated this year. There is a strong pipeline of projects, however, and it is expected that a much greater percentage of the budget allocation for 2002 will be disbursed.
The budget for the north-west region, that is Counties Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, is £1.253 million for 2001. Budgets are not allocated on a county basis but a regional basis depending on the employment and training needs of the particular region. Each application is considered on its merits and is recommended for approval or otherwise to FÁS by a local working group established for this purpose in each partnership area.
Under the feasibility grant element of the social economy programme the local working group in County Sligo received 41 expressions of interest, 27 applications for business plan grants and had 20 business applications approved.
