Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 Jan 2003

Vol. 560 No. 1

Written Answers. - Community Development Measures.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

950 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding three volunteer groups in the western region under Partnership 2000 (details supplied) regarding funding under the community development projects. [27190/02]

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Éamon Ó Cuív)

My Department was established to produce a more co-ordinated engagement by the State with communities around the country, as they pursue their own development. As a first step towards this goal, a review is being undertaken of the programmes and activities which come within the remit of my Department, with a view to achieving optimal coherence across the various schemes and maximising the effectiveness of the programmes for local communities. This process will shape the future development of the Department's programmes, including the community development support programme.

In the context of a tighter economic situation generally, the level of funding allocated to the community development support programmes for 2003 has been reduced by comparison with 2002. This allocation will enable my Department to meet its current core commitments to existing community development projects in 2003. The reduced allocation may, however, mean that we are not in a position to progress the expansion of the community development support programme at the same pace as we have done in previous years. The question therefore of providing funding to new groups, including those in the western region, will be considered in the context of existing commitments and the available resources.