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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 4

Written Answers. - Community and Urban Development.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

294 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent of financial assistance awarded to date by his Department in support of urban communities under various headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18113/03]

The Deputy will be aware from replies given on foot of previous questions that my Department and the bodies under its aegis are responsible for a wide range of schemes operated for the benefit of both urban and rural communities across the country.

With specific reference to those schemes under which financial assistance is provided to urban communities directly by my Department, I am pleased to advise the Deputy as follows. Support of some €7,469,161 was provided to the 14 local drugs task forces (LDTFs) in 2002, bringing the amount allocated or spent to implement around 500 projects contained in the plans of the task forces since 1997 to over €65 million. A further €2,452,089 has been allocated for the support of the LDTFs in 2003. Further funding of more than €11.5 million has been allocated to LDTF areas under the premises initiative, including €4,309,000 in 2002. An allocation of €1,192,000 has been provided under the premises initiative in 2003.

Assistance to a value of €59 million has also been provided under the young people's facilities and services fund in task force areas and selected urban areas where a drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. That includes expenditure in 2002 of €15,933,099, while the allocation for 2003 is €10,879,386.

In addition, support totalling €10,103,580 was provided to urban communities under the com munity development support programmes in 2002, broken down as follows: community development programme, €4,952,102; core funded groups, €1,521,910; regional support agencies, €2,986,090; specialist support agencies, €643,488. Some €6,030,677 has already been paid under those schemes in 2003, broken down as follows: community development programme, €3,811,752; core-funded groups, €17,349; regional support agencies €1,845,267; specialist support agencies, €356,309.
Financial assistance provided to projects in urban areas under CAIT, community application of information technology, in 2002 was €3,358,454, while a total of €887,711 has been provided in support to such projects to date in 2003. Expenditure under the scheme of once off grants to locally based community and family support groups in 2002 came to €2.74 million, while a total of €2.7 million was expended under the scheme of community support for older people. Some €2.3 million and €3.444 million respectively has been allocated for those schemes in 2003.
In addition, funding of €45,889,598 was provided to partnership and community groups and territorial employment pacts under the local development social inclusion programme – LDSIP – in 2002. That programme is administered on behalf of the Department by ADM Ltd. Some €41,660,412 has been allocated for 2003 to those groups under the LDSIP. A large proportion of that funding goes to urban areas.
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