Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 1

Written Answers. - Voluntary Groups Funding.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

162 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Education if he will give details of the funding, if any, which is available to voluntary groups under any of the following, or any other headings, and if he will also outline the means of application: (a) development of community centres, (b) youth activities, (c) creches, (d) women in education, (e) education in rural areas, (f) anti-poverty, (g) women's groups, (h) rural enterprise, (i) day care centres, (j) care of the elderly, (k) laundry, (l) meals on wheels, (m) tidy towns, (n) setting up community co-ops, (o) alternative energy, (p) mother and child, (q) development in traditional craft, (r) sport, and (s) health.

Minister for Education (Mr. S. Brennan)

It would not be possible to disaggegate expenditure on the education service under the headings specified by the Deputy

In addition to the funding which is provided for the general education services, funding is provided for voluntary groups as part of the programmes relating to youth, sport and adult education. The funding in 1991 for these programmes was £9.8 million, £5.6 million and £0.244 million respectively.

In addition, the voluntary groups which organise pre-schools for traveller children receive 98 per cent grant aid from my Department towards the cost of tuition and transport. The same level of support is provided in respect of transport organised by voluntary groups for traveller children to national schools. In 1991, the total expenditure in these areas was £725,000 approximately. These grants are paid where a need for the particular service has been identified by my Department's inspectorate.

An allocation of £25,000 per annum is also being made from the disadvantaged areas fund to the pre-school groups in those areas towards the cost of materials, equipment, etc.