Vol. 562 No. 1
478 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the areas in which there is a focus on disabilities in relation to community development projects, in view of the fact that this is European Year of the Disabled; if his Department will give a priority to such projects in allocating funding for 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5242/03]
The community development support programme is aimed at addressing all areas of poverty and disadvantage. Projects are concerned with the needs of women and children, those with disabilities, the homeless, lone parent families, the elderly, the unemployed, young people at risk, Traveller and other disadvantaged groups. Projects are based in inner city areas, in rural areas, in small towns and peripheral estates in suburban areas. Depending on their location and the particular needs in their areas, the projects have a wide range of individual aims, activities and target groups.
Whereas the focus of each project supported under the community development support programme is determined by the management committee of each project, depending on identified needs locally, the programme also supports a number of initiatives which focus specifically on disability issues. The programme directly supports a community development post within the Kerry Network of People with Disabilities. Also, a contract was agreed last year with the Interaction project based in Clane, County Kildare. This project will have a national remit to work with people with disabilities in a number of local areas. The project has a two stranded approach involving personal development and leadership training and raising awareness of disability issues in other core-funded community development projects. It is expected that the Interaction project will become fully operational over the course of 2003.
Under the community development support programme, my Department also funds a number of specialist support agencies which have a national focus and expertise in work with specific groups, for example, Travellers, homeless people, people with disabilities. These agencies are a resource to the programme in relation to the issues, as well as providing specialist advice and support to local projects, as appropriate.
479 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications received by his Department in regard to community development projects; the amount of funding provided in his Department's Estimates for such projects; the timescale of his Department's decision making in allocating such funds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5243/03]
480 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of existing community development projects receiving funding from his Department; the amount of funding each project has received for each of the past three years if in existence for that period or in each year of the project's existence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5244/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 479 and 480 together.
There are 107 community development projects and 48 core funded groups being funded under the community development support programme. Details of all payments made to groups under the community development support programme are held in the Oireachtas Library for the information of the members. It is envisaged that details of grants for 2002 will be provided to the Oireachtas Library shortly.
In addition, pre-project training and development work has been undertaken with 27 groups who have applied for core-funding under the community development support programme. In a further three areas, which have been designated for inclusion in the community development support programme, pre-development work has yet to commence. There are, in addition, 35 applications which are currently under assessment for inclusion in the community development support programme.
481 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if funding for the Bridge Community Development Project, Newbridge, has been ringfenced in view of the fact that in a public announcement in May 1999, the then Minister announced a community development project for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5245/03]
484 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will sanction the long awaited community development programme for Dolphin House Flats, Dublin 8, as the 920 residents who live in the 384 flat complex are anxiously awaiting the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5487/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 481 and 484 together.
The tighter economic situation this year may mean that the expansion of the community development support programmes may not occur at the same pace as in previous years. In light of this, my Department is currently assessing the situation in relation to current commitments and available resources. In this regard, I expect to be in a position soon to announce details of those areas to which funding will be allocated this year for new community development projects. Priority will be given in 2003 to areas of most disadvantage.
