asked the Minister for Social Welfare when the anti-poverty agency promised in the Fine Gael-Labour Joint Programme for Government will be established; if it will be established as a statutory agency; the funds which will be made available to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Combat Poverty Agency.
9.
The Combat Poverty Agency Bill, 1985, which has been introduced in Seanad Éireann, provides for the establishment of a combat poverty agency on a statutory basis.
The funding of the new agency will be a matter for consideration in the context of the annual Estimates. Funding for the agency in 1985 will be provided from the allocation of £1 million of the anti-poverty programme.
How soon does the Minister expect that this Bill will be passed through this House and the agency established? Will the agency be dependent solely on funds from the EC or will there be a contribution from the Exchequer?
The Bill is in the Seanad and the Second Stage is continuing tomorrow. Every effort is being made to get it through the Houses of the Oireachtas. The funding will be a matter for consideration in the context of the annual Estimates.
We have already dealt with the question relating to the moneys available for the Coolock law centre. Have any Government Department any idea when this agency will be established? Will it be established before the Dáil goes into recess in July, or in September or October? There are many voluntary groups, including the community law centre, whose existence depends on the funding which has been promised from this agency.
That will depend on how quickly the Bill goes through the Houses of the Oireachtas. There will be no undue delay in having the agency set up.
10.
asked the Minister for Social Welfare the criteria to be used by the proposed combat poverty agency when providing funding for anti-poverty projects; the type of projects which will be funded; and if special consideration will be given to existing projects set up by the original combat poverty agency which are still operating but in very difficult financial circumstances.
The functions of the proposed Combat Poverty Agency are set out in the Combat Poverty Agency Bill, 1985, which has been introduced in Seanad Éireann. One of these functions is, in consultation with the Minister, to foster and assist projects of community development and activities to overcome poverty. Such assistance may be by way of financial assistance or otherwise. When, following enactment of the legislation, the agency is established, it will be a matter for the agency in the first instance to determine its criteria for allocating grants. I am not, therefore, in a position at this stage to specify the types of projects which will be assisted other than to draw attention to the explicit reference in the Bill to projects of community development among those to be assisted.
Can the Minister explain the relationship between the present EC poverty programme, and the moneys available from Brussels for that poverty programme, and the proposed combat poverty agency? What is the connection between the two? Will the same moneys be involved, or will the proposed combat poverty agency be funded directly by the Government from Exchequer funds? It is not very clear what that relationship is. Could the Minister explain it?
It strikes the Chair that this could best be put on the Bill which is apparently on its way here.
With respect, I do not think that it is in the Bill. Possibly the Minister does not know the answer. If he does, I should welcome clarification on the matter.
I am sure we shall have that information for the Deputy as soon as the Bill gets to the House. Perhaps I could give the information to him sooner than that if I get it.
If the agency are dependent on EC funds and the EC decide in a year's time that they have no further function in the matter, will the Government ensure——
There are many suppositions in that
——that they will continue the Combat Poverty Agency and that it will not be wound up in 12 months time or in one or two years?
I have already answered that question to the extent that it will be a matter for the annual Estimates to determine what level of funding the agency will have.
A final supplementary.
Can the Minister say who will make a decision as to the projects which will be funded by the Combat Poverty Agency? Will the decision be made by the agency, the Minister, or will the decision have to be ratified in Brussels by the European Commission?
I have stated that following the enactment of the legislation, when the agency are established it will be a matter for the agency in the first instance to determine their criteria for allocating grants. I am not therefore in a position at this stage to specify the types of projects which will be assisted. That is the present position.
I would appeal to the Deputy to leave it untill the Bill comes into the House. He will have every opportunity on Second and Committee Stages.
It could be October.
If the Minister has not the information now, could he get it and send it on to me? Could he clarify precisely what the decision making process will be? Will decisions as to what projects are to be funded be made here, or in Brussels by the European Commission?
The formulation of criteria for deciding the allocation of assistance will be a matter for the agency when established. The purpose of setting up the agency as a statutory body is to give a degree of independence to them in carrying out their functions. With regard to particular functions, consultation with the Minister is provided for.