Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 July 2014
475. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the lowest score that was needed to be awarded a grant under the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO, scheme of grants announced recently that is administered by Pobal for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32221/14]
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.
The new scheme was advertised for applications earlier this year. Pobal were asked 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.
Some 157 applications were received by Pobal. Of these, three applications did not meet the basic eligibility criteria. The remaining 154 applications were appraised by Pobal against the criteria as outlined in the application guidance.
My predecessor was anxious to make funding available to as many organisations as possible within the prevailing resource constraints and, having considered the recommendations of Pobal carefully, he approved 55 applications for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. This included all those organisations with a score of 61% or higher, and one additional organisation which was included for funding on the basis that the organisation offers a unique service for disabled persons.
