Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Mar 1992

Vol. 417 No. 1

Written Answers. - Voluntary Groups Funding.

Dick Spring

Ceist:

227 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for the Environment 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) womens' 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 the Environment (Mr. Smith)

The information sought is as follows:

The Plan for Social Housing contains a range of measures involving financial support for voluntary and co-operative efforts to provide adequate accommodation for households in need of housing e.g. grants for the provision of voluntary housing schemes for homeless and disabled persons, etc., and the new rental subsidy scheme. The administration of the schemes has been devolved to the local authorities.

In addition, my Department make an annual contribution up to a maximum of 75 per cent of the administrative and general expenses incurred by certain approved representative bodies undertaking research or providing information in the housing area.

In 1991 and earlier years, the amenities/recreational facilities grants scheme assisted projects of an amenity, recreational, leisure or environmental improvement nature, other than projects primarily of a commercial nature. There is no provision in my Department's 1992 Estimate for new grant allocations under the scheme.

Grants are available for those undertaking the provision of group water and sewerage schemes. Applications are made direct to my Department.

My Department make annual awards under the environmental awareness scheme to non-governmental organisations such as conservation, community and youth groups. The individual awards varied from £150 to £2,500 in 1991. Notices announcing the scheme are placed in the national newspapers each year inviting interested groups to apply direct to my Department.

My Department pay grants up to a maximum of 90 per cent of the approved cost of equipment, insurance and training expenses incurred by voluntary teams engaged in mountain and cave rescue. Applications are made direct to my Department.

My Department pay an annual contribution to the Irish architectural archive in respect of the cost of gathering records of all kinds of Irish buildings and making them available to interested parties, including local authorities.