Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 July 2014
122. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he, his Department or Pobal discussed with the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive the allocation of funding to health-related organisations under the scheme to support national organisations 2014-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30483/14]
View answerThe funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. A new round of funding was advertised for applications earlier this year. I asked Pobal to undertake an assessment of the applications received, given that organisation's significant experience and expertise of both the design of assessment criteria and completion of assessment functions. I was anxious to make funding available to as many organisations as possible within the prevailing resource constraints and I approved 55 applications for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016.
A large number of organisations operating in health-related areas applied for funding under the scheme and a number are included a mong the 55 organisations being grant-aided under the scheme. In the context of reviewing the scheme for the next round of multi-annual funding, I met with my colleague the Minister for Health to initiate a policy discussion on whether or not from a public policy point of view, it would be more efficient that organisations receive funding only from the Department with lead responsibility for policy in their area, rather than seek funding across a number of different Departments. This issue will considered further with relevant Departments in good time before the ending of the current scheme at end June 2016.
