Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 June 2004
580 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to an application (details supplied) in connection with a dormant accounts fund and if, in view of the importance of this application for the extension of proper child care facilities in this area, he will make an urgent decision on the matter. [17379/04]
View answer581 Ms O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if projects which are not in a CLÁR or RAPID area can qualify for support from the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17433/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together.
Decisions on the disbursement of dormant accounts funds are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board has engaged Area Development Management Limited to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf which will involve the disbursement of up to €30 million from the fund to assist programmes or projects targeting three broad categories of persons, those affected by economic and social disadvantage, those affected by educational disadvantage and persons with a disability.
The board's disbursement plan, published in late 2003, provides that at least 40% of total annual funding will be allocated to the area of economic and social disadvantage and at least 25% to each of the other two categories. Over the first year, funding allocated for economic and social disadvantage will wholly be allocated to RAPID, CLÁR or drugs task force areas and in subsequent years, not less then 50% of this funding shall be allocated annually to such areas. In addition, the plan provides that at least half of the allocation for the purposes of educational disadvantage will go towards programmes or projects within RAPID and drugs task force areas.
Under the current round of funding, therefore, projects which are not in RAPID, CLÁR or drugs task force areas can qualify for assistance in respect of projects targeting educational disadvantage and persons with a disability. An application from the group referred to by the Deputy has been received by Area Development Management Limited. All applications received will be evaluated by it against the criteria set out in the published guidelines and recommendations made to the dormant accounts board for decision. The group concerned will be advised of the outcome in due course.
