Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 April 2015
130. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 15564/15 which was disallowed, if he will report on his responsibility for funding community organisations and providing funding to grant making organisations such as Pobal. [16899/15]
View answerMy Department supports the community and voluntary sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. There is a particular focus on supporting communities that are vulnerable, disadvantaged or under threat through a suite of schemes.
The strong commitment of this Government to supporting the community and voluntary sector is evident through the overall budget of €133 million, which has been provided for community and rural development purposes this year through the Vote of my Department, as detailed in the Revised Estimates for 2015.
In relation to the Deputy’s specific query regarding Pobal, I can advise the Deputy that Pobal, a not-for-profit organisation, manages a significant proportion of funding on behalf of my Department under both the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and Dormant Accounts Measures.
Summary details of my Department’s main community and voluntary schemes and programmes are set out below. It should be noted that further details in relation to the funding and operation of these programmes and schemes are available on my Department’s website at www.environ.ie.
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Programme/Scheme |
Summary Details |
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Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) |
SICAP is one of the Department’s main social inclusion programmes, aimed at tackling poverty and social exclusion in disadvantaged communities, and the new programme was rolled out across communities on 1 April 2015. |
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Scheme to Support National Organisations |
The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector provides multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. |
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Leader Programmes |
The Leader measures of the Rural Development Programme provide resources to support the sustainable development of rural communities across the country. |
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Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme and Action Plan |
A new Disbursement Scheme was approved by Government in December 2013 and an Action Plan to give effect to the Scheme was adopted in July 2014. |
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Community and Voluntary Pillar |
My Department provides annual funding to members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar, to support costs, not funded from any other sources, directly related to the organisations’ contribution to policy-making in a social partnership context |
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Seniors Alert Scheme |
The Seniors Alert Scheme is a community-based initiative that promotes independent living for older people in their own homes. The Scheme is administered by more than 900 local community and voluntary groups |
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Volunteering Supports |
My Department funds Volunteer Ireland and a network of twenty one Volunteer Centres, who act as ‘brokers’ between potential volunteers and organisations seeking volunteers. |
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Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising |
My Department provides funding to Philanthropy Ireland, Fundraising Ireland, the Irish Charities Tax Reform Group and Social Innovation Fund Ireland to support the work of the Forum on Philanthropy and Fundraising to develop philanthropy and charitable giving in Ireland. |
The Government remains firmly committed to supporting front line projects which improve the lives of our most disadvantaged people and this can be seen through the implementation of the above mentioned range of measures, schemes, programmes and initiatives across many communities. If the Deputy wishes to request information on a more specific basis, I will endeavour to respond as quickly as possible.
