Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2011
48 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will commit to ring-fencing, and bringing forward into next year, the grant awarded to a project (details supplied) in this financial year due to the process, involving other agencies, taking longer than anticipated. [31794/11]
View answerIn March 2011, the Board of FÁS approved a grant of €630,000 to enable the Lourdes Youth and Community Services (LYCS) and North City Centre Community Action Project (NCCCAP) to undertake the proposed refurbishment of the recently vacated Rutland Street School. The prime purpose was to enable both community organisations to merge their services and to be re-housed in the school.
Both organisations operate a 40 place Community Training Centre (CTC) funded by the Department of Education and Skills (DES) through FÁS. It is proposed that both CTCs merge into one entity, therefore creating savings on administration and maximizing productivity.
The Rutland Street school building is in the ownership of the Dublin Diocesan Trust who are in negotiations with Dublin City Council (DCC) to hand over the property in lieu of an exchange of lands arrangement for the new school which was recently built on DCC lands. DCC have agreed that LYCS/NCCCAP can refurbish the former school on completion of these negotiations. However, this process is taking longer than anticipated. DCC have now informed FÁS that they will not be in a position to offer LYCS/NCCCAP a lease until such time as the handover is complete.
The provision of funding for 2012 can only be considered in the context of the Comprehensive Expenditure Review and the Annual Estimates Process currently ongoing.
