Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 July 2020
539. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grant aid available to churches, church organisations, charity organisations and so on which have accrued large expenses while they were closed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14009/20]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing communities and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
In that context my Department is providing funding supports to organisations through the Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund. This fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
This fund will provide up to €35million of funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) and the criteria align with DAF objectives to support:
1. The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged; or
2. The educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
3. Persons with a disability.
Over one thousand applications were received during the application period. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and in order to ensure that funding is released as quickly as possible, applicants were considered in smaller groupings.
The first tranche of funding was announced on Friday 26 June with 179 organisations being awarded €10.5 million in funding, the full list can be found at the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3957e-covid-19-stability-fund-successful-applicants/.
It is expected that further tranches of funding will be announced in the coming weeks.
