Written Answers - Community Support Schemes.
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:
425
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
asked the
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs
the various grants available, if any, from his Department for community groups involved in youth work, drugs rehabilitation, literacy work, and the provision of services for marginalised groups such as travellers and senior citizens.
[9439/03]
As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is responsible for a wide range of schemes designed to support the social and economic development of communities both urban and rural, across the country. The range of these schemes has been outlined to the House on a number of occasions by my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, most recently in his response to Parliamentary Question No. 142 of 26 March in which he outlined those schemes designed to support the social and economic development of communities both urban and rural, across the country.
Against this background I am pleased to provide the Deputy with the following brief summary of those measures within the aegis of the Department which are most relevant to his inquiry.
The local development and social inclusion programme (LDSIP) is delivered across three sub-measures – services to the unemployed, community developmen, and community based youth initiatives. The programme is delivered on the ground by 38 partnerships and 33 community groups. There is a provision of €44 million approximately in my Department's vote for this programme in 2003.
The local drugs task forces (LDTFs) operate in areas experiencing the worst levels of drug misuse, particularly heroin. In total, the Government has allocated over €62.5 million to the implementation of projects local drugs task force areas since 1997. The total 2003 allocation for drugs related projects is €16.159 million, the bulk of which is for LDTF projects.
The young people's facilities and services fund was established in 1998 as part of the Government's overall strategy to tackle drug misuse. The fund aims to assist in the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. An amount of approximately €68 million has been allocated to date under the first round of funding. Some €15.877 million has been provided for the fund in 2003.
Over €21 million has been provided for 2003 under the community development support programme and programme of core funding for community and family support groups, administered as part of the social inclusion measure of the National Development Plan 2000-06.
The community development programme is designed to develop a network of community development projects in communities experiencing high unemployment, poverty and disadvantage. The programme provides funding towards staff overhead and administration costs associated with running a resource centre. There are currently 138 projects receiving funding or approved in principle for inclusion in the programme. The programme of core funding for community and family support groups provides support for smaller scale self-help work in specific target groups that experience disadvantage. At present, there are some 50 groups participating in the programme or in the process of being set up. Funding under these programmes assists in relation to 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. In addition, a further €2.4 million is being provided in 2003 for grant schemes which concentrate on a wide range of supports for local self help groups and community development.
The scheme of community support for older people provides funding for initiatives to improve the security and social support of vulnerable older people. Under the terms of the scheme, grant aid is available towards the once-off costs of purchase and/or installation of small-scale physical security equipment and socially monitored alarm systems. Some €3.444 million has been made available for grant aid under the scheme in 2003.
The EU Leader programmes administered by my Department provide funding to local groups to develop their own areas. In line with the bottom up philosophy of Leader the local group is the decision-making authority on funding for projects in their own locality, subject to compliance with EU rules and regulations. There is a strong community focus in the programmes and substantial funding is directed towards community type projects.
While the programmes do not have a special focus on areas of disadvantage the activities of Leader groups in implementing projects have a positive effect on areas of disadvantage. Youth is singled out for special attention under the programmes and all groups must target this category for grant awards. An amount of €11.806 million has been allocated for this programme in 2003, while a further of €9.457 million has been allocated to the area based rural development initiative which focuses on the development of integrated area based strategies to address rural disadvantage.
The scheme to enhance training capacity in the community and voluntary sector stems from the White Paper on Supporting Voluntary Activity. The scheme was advertised on 25 March 2002 with a closing date of 7 May 2002. Applications received under this scheme are currently being assessed.
The scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies in the community and voluntary sector, also stems from the White Paper. This scheme was advertised on 12 March 2003 and the closing date for receipt of applications is 11 April 2003.
While these two schemes are not specifically targeted at the groups referred to by the Deputy, groups from those categories may receive funding under these measures.
My Department is also responsible for the administration of a range of measures designed to facilitate and support the development of Gaeltacht and island communities.
Capital grants are available in Gaeltacht areas for the development of maritime works, the improvement of Gaeltacht roads, the provision and improvement of Gaeltacht housing for qualified applicants, the provision and improvement of amenities, such as community halls, sports fields and other facilities. By improving the infrastructure, these grants add to the social, cultural and economic life of the Gaeltacht areas, as well as strengthening Irish as the community language within such areas. A provision of €14.294 million has been made for these schemes in 2003.
Údarás na Gaeltachta also promotes and supports community development and pursues a range of language and cultural activities involving individuals, community groups and industries throughout the Gaeltacht. Current funding of €8.72 million and capital of €24 million has been made available to the Údarás in 2003.
My Department also has €8.479 million funding in 2003 for islands to advance the development of infrastructure and services in support of communities on offshore islands.
