Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 November 2018
253. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for support to be provided for voluntary, community groups and projects nationally and in County Kildare in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46430/18]
View answerMy Department has lead responsibility for developing the relationship between the State and community and voluntary sector and our vision for this sector is one which actively contributes meaningfully to supporting vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.
In line with this objective, my Department will shortly be issuing a call for inputs to a paper on key aspects to be included in a National Volunteering Strategy, with a view to obtaining views from the sector in preparation for the development of a volunteering strategy in 2019.
Volunteering supporting infrastructure has already been set up nationwide in the form of Volunteer Centres, Volunteering Information Services and Volunteer Ireland, and the Department hopes to further develop this infrastructure. Last month, my Department allocated €1.2 million to upgrade eight Volunteer Information Services to full Volunteer Centres in order to provide a consistent level of volunteering service nationwide.
In 2018, €3.5 million was allocated by my Department to support the work of volunteering organisations. The Department also approved a request from Volunteer Ireland for €115,000 to update the I-VOL database. This upgrade will facilitate public online access to volunteering information and opportunities.
In addition, the Department also approved funding of €85,000 for Boardmatch Ireland to develop a new national website to support their ongoing growth.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations in the sector, with a focus on organisations that provide supports to those who are disadvantaged. The current three-year scheme runs to 30 June 2019, and all funding has been fully allocated for 2018.
Our Communities, the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development, sets a high level vision for the State’s support for local development and community development and will underpin all relevant policies, programmes and interventions for local and community development. My Department is developing an implementation plan for the framework policy in partnership with key State and community stakeholders.
My Department has provided direct supports to projects in Co Kildare and across the country that are developed or administered by community groups and will continue this investment into 2019.
The Community Services Programme (CSP), which had an allocation for 2018 of €46million, supports community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model for services which are not being met through public or private funding.
The Community Enhancement Programme provides small capital grants to community groups across the country, including Men's Sheds, and has been allocated a total of €13million in 2018, of which €468,671 has been allocated to groups in Kildare.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is a key intervention for disadvantaged communities, offering supports to both individuals and local community groups. The current programme commenced at the start of 2018 and runs until 2022 and is delivered locally by Local Development Companies in 51 Lot Areas. The funding allocation to County Kildare for 2018 was €1,061,036.
Voluntary and community groups in rural areas may also be able to access funding under the CLÁR Programme, which has allocated €25million to more than 1,200 small scale infrastructural projects since 2016, in the areas of school and community safety, recreational play areas, first response support and mobility and cancer care transport.
Funding may also be available under my Department's LEADER Programme to support community and voluntary groups in rural Ireland. Applications for funding can be made directly to the relevant Local Action Groups.
The Seniors Alert Scheme provides personal monitored alarms to enable older people, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by Pobal, with applicants applying via community organisations operating in their local area. Since Pobal took over the administration of the Scheme in September 2015, 16 community organisations have been approved to operate the Scheme in Co. Kildare.
Further information on all funding programmes and schemes is available on my Department's website.
