Regeneration Projects Funding

Thursday, 29 November 2012

Questions (178)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

178. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he will [provide an update of the operation of the specific fund of €1 million (details supplied), for community initiatives that would contribute to regeneration in specific areas of Limerick city and to be managed by the new Office for Regeneration; if he will provide details of the way in which the fund will operate, the criteria that will govern the fund; the way the fund relates to the existing funds available for social initiatives within the Regeneration Project; the initiatives that have received monies from this fund to date; and the period the fund will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53576/12]

View answer

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government

The €1 million fund has been used by the Office of Regeneration to support a broad range of social interventions within the regeneration areas, which heretofore had not been included for funding by the former Regeneration Agencies.

The Office of Regeneration established an Assessment Committee, comprising of suitably skilled personnel, to assess applications against a pre-determined set of eligibility criteria. These criteria are clearly set out in the application process and are based on those already in place for the Social Interventions Fund operated by the Agencies and, more recently, by the Office of Regeneration. The criteria used in assessing applications include the specific need being addressed by the proposed project, consistency with the regeneration strategies and programmes, project sustainability, expected outcomes, value for money and capacity within the promoting body in terms of management skills and governance arrangements.

My Department has asked the Office of Regeneration to submit an end of year report on all the projects approved under the measure, together with details of the funding provided and the expected outcomes.