Written Answers. - Community Development.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:
438
Mr. Durkan
asked the
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
the number of urban and rural communities which have currently registered with his Department or the extent to which he has made contact with such groups with a view to offering assistance, whether technical or financial; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24791/02]
Information in relation to the numbers of urban and rural communities in receipt of assistance from my Department is given below.
Under the CLÁR programme, 99 groups have been offered financial assistance to date while nationwide 35 local action groups and three collective bodies have been selected by the Government to implement the Leader programmes. Projects are now being implemented in all local areas. In relation to drugs, 256 projects have been allocated moneys under the second round of local drugs task forces or LDTF action plans covering 14 areas. There are also 36 projects allocated money under the premises initiative and six projects under the national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, community research grant scheme.
The local development social inclusion programme is managed by Area Development Management Limited or ADM on behalf of my Department. ADM has committed funds up to the end of 2003 to 38 area partnerships and 33 community groups that deliver the programme at local level. The CAIT initiative was launched in December 2000 to provide those at risk of exclusion from the benefits that the new technologies can bring to our everyday lives, with opportunities to participate fully in the information society. The first CAIT initiative attracted 450 applications and funding has been provided to 71 of these. The second initiative was launched in February 2002 and attracted 214 applications, of which 50 have been funded to date. The 121 funded projects are spread throughout the country, with at least one project in each county. A further 26 projects are currently being considered for funding under this initiative.
My Department provides supports to local self help and community development initiatives through a range of once off grant schemes and long-term funding programmes. The community development support programmes provide long-term core funding to a total of 161 community development projects and community and family support groups across the country. A further 31 groups receive technical support from regional support agencies which are funded to provide day-to-day advice and guidance to all the projects. In addition, my Department has recently received new applications from a total of 44 groups seeking inclusion in the programme.
My Department also operates a range of once off grant schemes, which support community development and family support groups. Details of the expenditure under each scheme and all the grants made in 2001 are published in the Oireachtas Library for the information of Members. As soon as details of all grants paid in 2002 have been compiled, they will also be placed in the Oireachtas Library.
Assistance is provided to Gaeltacht and island communities through a variety of schemes for the support of infrastructural development and the maintenance of the Irish language in Gaeltacht areas.
