Bernard J. Durkan
Question:89 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to financially assist community development in 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17806/03]
Written Answers. - Community Development.
The community development support programmes provide financial assistance to locally-based groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in their communities towards the staffing and equipping of community resource centres and other specialised projects and initiatives. In the region of €21.3 million has been provided this year to meet my Department's commitments under these programmes.
There are currently some 190 community development projects and issue based groups supported under the CDSP, of which 160 are in receipt of core funding and 30 are approved in principle for inclusion in the programme. Notwithstanding the current tight economic situation, I am pleased to confirm that I will be able to allocate funding to 15 of these groups with effect from September 2003, in fulfilment of Partnership 2000 commitments. In this regard, each project will receive a renewable one-year contract for funding totalling €60,000 and assistance towards start-up costs up to a maximum of €27,000 per project. The 15 groups were selected with priority being given to areas of greatest need, particularly with reference to RAPID and CLÁR. Pre-development work is under way in the remaining 15 proactively targeted areas and I hope, subject to available resources, to be able to fund these groups also in 2004.
My Department is also responsible for the operation of a scheme of once-off grants which benefits voluntary and community groups who focus on tackling poverty and disadvantage and work from community development principles. Some €2.4 million has been provided this year to operate the scheme, which is being advertised in the national and local media from today. Under the scheme, funding will be available for training, education or research initiatives aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of local communities and voluntary groups. Grants will also be available for the purchase of equipment or transport and premises related costs.