Question 255 of 28 May 2008 dealt with contracts for support agencies under the Community Development Programme. Support agencies were contracted to provide supports to community development projects, which, in turn deliver the programme under contract to my Department. Expressions of interest for revised supports for the Programme were called for on the e-tenders website on 16 June 2008, with a closing date of 17 July 2008. A number of expressions of interest were received and my Department is considering how best to proceed.
The organisation to which the Deputy refers in his question is a community development project with a contract that is due to expire on 31 December 2008. My Department is currently involved in a contract renewal process with this and other community development projects.