Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2020
672. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will respond to queries raised (details supplied) in respect of the local company development perspective application for Covid stability funding; and if she will seek urgent clarification for the NGO. [44279/20]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was 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. The criteria of the scheme stated that any grants awarded would be dependent on the need identified and organisations approved for funding were prioritised on that basis.
In this context it was considered that organisations that receive 80%, or more, of their funding from State sources are considered to have had a significant and stable source of income over the period under consideration, as the State has continued to provide that funding.
On the basis of the information provided by the organisation in question in their application to the Stability Fund, it was evident that organisation is in receipt of more than 80% of its funding from State sources and regretfully, it has not been awarded funding under the COVID Stability Scheme.
Unsuccessful applicants were offered leave to appeal and I can confirm that the organisation in question did engage with that process. All appeals are considered by an independent appeals panel and following further interaction with the applicant as part of that process the final decision of the appeals panel was notified to the applicant on the 9th November.
Following further correspondence the outcome of the appeal was explained in detail to the applicant by way of emails on the 11th and 27th of November and most recently on the 11th of December. The decision of the Appeals Review panel is final.
