I refer the Deputy to Question No. 54 of 27 November 2003 in which I provided details of the many schemes and initiatives operated by my Department. With regard to financial support provided to date in 2004, the following are the details requested by the Deputy.
My Department administers the community development programme which provides core funding to voluntary groups to empower local communities to address the issues that affect them. A sum of €20.6 million has been allocated to this programme in 2004. The total expenditure on the programme to date is €4.375 million. My Department also administers the scheme for the reintegration of ex-prisoners and €0.136 million has been allocated to this scheme in 2004. Total expenditure to date is €0.034 million.
A total of €8.59 million, €2.148 million from the Exchequer, has been allocated to the administration of the PEACE II programme in 2004. The programme is administered by the Combat Poverty Agency in Monaghan on behalf of my Department. To date a total of €2.05 million, €0.5 million from Exchequer, has been allocated to the Combat Poverty Agency. My Department administers funding under the programme for support for national anti-poverty networks. A sum of €1,430,650 has been allocated under this scheme in 2004. The total expenditure on the scheme to date is €643,792. My Department is also responsible for grants entitled "funding to support volunteering". A sum of €271,998 has been allocated under this scheme in 2004. The total expenditure on the scheme to date is €98,739.
There is provision of €42.144 million in my Department's Vote for the local development social inclusion programme, LDSIP, which aims to promote social inclusion. Funding is allocated to partnerships and community groups and territorial employment pacts to deliver the local development social inclusion programme under three measures — services for the unemployed, community based youth initiatives and community development. Area Development Management Limited manages the local development social inclusion programme on behalf of my Department and €9.438 million has been expended by my Department to end of February.
A new dedicated fund of €4.5 million capital funding is being made available in my Department's Vote in 2004 to support small scale localised actions in RAPID areas through co-funding with the relevant Department or agency. I propose to announce full details of how this money will be spent shortly.
There is an amount of €10.615 million provided for the Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. This aims to address the legacy of conflict and to take opportunities arising from peace through developing measures that focus on the following priorities: economic renewal, social integration, inclusion and reconciliation and cross-Border co-operation. The programme operates in Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland — Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan, Sligo — and is managed by ADM/CPA on behalf of the Department. A total of €2.4 million has been drawn down to date in 2004 to facilitate payments to projects.
A sum of €26.756 million has been has been provided in my Department's Vote for expenditure in the drugs area in 2004. This funding will primarily be spent on projects and initiatives funded through the local drugs task forces and the young persons facilities and services fund, YPFSF. Total expenditure to date in 2004 amounts to €1.045 million.
Funding of almost €150 million has been allocated to 38 local action groups countrywide under the Leader programmes for the period 2000-2006: Leader+, €73.6 million, and national rural development programme, €75.7 million. Funding is available to both private promoters and community groups through the local action groups for innovative rural enterprise projects, agricultural and fishery related projects, social and cultural projects and small scale environmentally friendly initiatives. The decision making process for the allocation of funding to promoters is devolved to the boards of each local action group. Funding of €21.27 million — Leader+ €11.812 million and NRDP €9.460 million — has been allocated for 2004. Expenditure to date in 2004 totals €2,666,780.
The areas targeted under the CLÁR programme will continue to benefit from assistance in 2004 under the range of measures operated. These areas are parts of Counties Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Westmeath and all of County Leitrim. Measures with a particular community focus are the group water scheme and group sewerage schemes. CLÁR provides funding, through the local authority, to householders in the group schemes by way of limited top up grants. As these schemes are demand led, there is no specific allocation. To date in 2004, approximately €380,000 of CLÁR funding for six schemes has been approved. Community based projects attracting less than 50% public funding under Leader may qualify for CLÁR top up funding subject to the certain conditions. As this scheme is demand led, there is no specific allocation. To date in 2004, approximately €254,000 of CLÁR funding for five projects has been approved.
The provision for the rural development fund in the Vote in my Department this year is €950,000. The purpose of the fund is to finance research, evaluation and pilot actions to provide information and advice for policy makers on important rural development issues. I am supporting a number of pilot actions in rural areas this year. The groups being supported are Foscadh Community Development, Inishowen Rural Development Limited, Inishowen Partnership, Sneen, Castlecove, Caherdaniel Integrated Resource Development, the Western Development Tourism Programme, Galway East Tourism Marketing, South Kerry Tourism, the Countryside Council or Comhairle na Tuaithe and Laois Rural Employment Partnership. Expenditure to date in 2004 totals €16,220. Arrangements for the fund are currently under review.
Financial support has been provided to various community groups in the Gaeltacht under my Department's Gaeltacht schemes. This funding is provided to improve the economic, social and physical conditions in the Gaeltacht and to strengthen the Irish language as the principal community language in the region. Grants approved by me to date in 2004 total €415,000.