Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2015
143. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will address the concerns outlined in correspondence (details supplied) regarding Irish Aid funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21075/15]
View answerI can confirm that the organisation, Global Schoolroom, applied for funding under the Irish Aid Civil Society Fund in 2014 and was awarded a grant of €40,000 for one year for its project in India in 2014. Global Schoolroom applied again in 2015 for further funding but, on this occasion, was unsuccessful.
The Civil Society Fund application and appraisal process is completed in an open and transparent manner by a committee comprising external consultants in addition to officials from The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The detailed assessment of the external consultant is subsequently communicated to all organizations that have applied for funding. The funding process is always very competitive and it is not possible to allocate funding to all applicants.
