Vol. 558 No. 4
123 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the Carmichael Centre for voluntary groups, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 1, will receive his full support, especially in relation to funding and grants. [19538/02]
The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs operates a range of schemes designed to provide financial support to groups operating in the community and voluntary sector including funding schemes provided by the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector.
The Carmichael Centre received a once-off capital grant for refurbishment –€150,000 – from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs in January 2002. Applications have also been received from the Carmichael Centre under the federation and networks scheme, and the training and supports scheme.
In relation to the federations and networks scheme, a number of legal issues have arisen in the course of processing the applications which could give rise to court challenge. So as to ensure that eventual funding decisions command full public confidence it is necessary to re-advertise the scheme and to seek fresh applications. Applications under the training and supports scheme are at present being considered by my Department.
Question No. 124 answered with Question No. 83.
125 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the funding made available for training purposes to community and voluntary groups. [24483/02]
The White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector published by the Government in September 2000 provided funding of €2.539 million per annum to foster the availability of additional training and support services within the community and voluntary sector. Applications for funding under this scheme are under consideration in my Department.
My Department also funds a number of once-off grant schemes which concentrate on provision of support for local self-help groups, community development, welfare rights and information work. The allocation for 2002 for these schemes is €2.924 million. Included among these schemes is the community development education and training grants scheme. The purpose of this scheme is to fund local community and voluntary groups for funding and education initiatives, for example, programmes which strengthen and increase the skills and knowledge of management committees. Allocations for 2003 will be considered in the context of the revised Estimates volume.
Question No. 126 answered with Question No. 106.
Question No. 127 answered with Question No. 83.
