Vol. 555 No. 5
134 Ms McManus asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in view of the decision taken by her Department to discontinue funding of citizens information centres from the social economy programme, the areas which funding for these vital community information centres will come from in the future if they are not to be closed down; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19152/02]
The national network of 85 citizens information centres are operated by volunteer staff and receive public funding through Comhairle, which operates under the aegis of the Department of Social and Family Affairs. I understand that a small number of citizens information centres around the country submitted applications and were approved for funding under the social economy programme. On further consideration by my Department and FÁS, it was concluded that citizens information centres did not demonstrate a likelihood of establishing themselves as enterprises providing sustainable employment and that the Framework Document for the programme specifies that activities undertaken under the programme will not substitute activities, which could be more properly funded through other existing sources. Funding for these centres continues to be provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, through Comhairle.
