Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 12 Feb 2003

Vol. 561 No. 2

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

346 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has advertised the various forms of grant assistance available through his Department, throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4066/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

348 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the total number of grant schemes available through his Department; whether grant type funding is available otherwise than through one of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4068/03]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

351 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the method by which applications in respect of community and rural development grants are to be made to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4071/03]

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

I propose to answer Questions Nos. 346, 348 and 351 together.

I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 103 of 3 December 2002 in which I gave the following information:

For 2003 the grant areas for which my Department and agencies operating under it will have responsibility are as follows:

Community and Local DevelopmentCommunity Development Support Programmes

Once off grants to locally based community and family support groups

Scheme of Community Support for Older People

Grants for Training and Supports in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Grants for Federations and Networks in the Community and Voluntary Sector

Community Research Grant schemes operated by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs

PEACE II operated by Area Development Management Ltd.

Local Development Social Inclusion Programme operated by Area Development Management Limited

Rural Development SchemesCLÁR

Rural Development Fund

LEADER

INTERREG

PEACE II operated by Area Development Management Limited

Farm Relief Services

Offshore IslandsCapital grants for economic and social development on offshore islands

Subsidies for operation of ferry/air services

My Department also funds the work of the local drugs task forces and the premises initiative for drugs projects. These plans are assessed by the national drugs strategy team and allocations are ultimately approved by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion. The funding for the projects in LDTF areas is channelled through the relevant Department or State agency.

The western investment fund, administered by the Western Development Commission, provides loans and can take equity in companies though it does not actually provide grants.

Gaeltacht and Irish LanguageIrish language maintenance schemes in the Gaeltacht

Gaeltacht Infrastructural Improvement Schemes

Miscellaneous Gaeltacht services

Ciste na Gaeilge

Grant to Bord na Leabhar Gaeilge

Certain Irish language projects outside the Gaeltacht

Industrial Development Grants made by Údarás na Gaeltachta

Grants in support of Irish, Ullans and Ulster Scots cultural issues made by *An Foras Teanga

*An Foras Teanga is a North-South body which comprises Foras na Gaeilge and Tha Boord o Ulster Scotch and is jointly funded by my Department and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure in Northern Ireland.

My Department also provides assistance directly to various organisations involved in the promotion of the Irish language and its related culture in Gaeltacht areas.

Annual grants are paid from Ciste na Gaeilge – which is financed from the proceeds of the national lottery – to certain established Irish language organisations. Applications from organisations that have not previously received assistance may also be examined. Assistance is also approved form the fund for miscellaneous Irish language projects on the basis of applications from the groups initiating them.

The Deputy will appreciate the difficulty in providing information in respect of the method of application in respect of the large number of schemes outlined above in the time available. I have therefore arranged for my officials to forward details of the various methods of application direct to the Deputy. I should mention that information on application procedures is available on my Department's website and will shortly be published in the Department's section 16 FOI Handbook, which is now being finalised for publication.

Currently a variety of approaches are taken to the advertising of the various forms of grant assistance available from my Department. These include the issues of press releases and placing of advertisements in national and local print media as appropriate. Information on all schemes administered by my Department is also available on the Department's website at www.pobail.ie.