Vol. 470 No. 2
69 Mr. E. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare the proposals, if any, he has to further develop the role of his Department in assisting and co-ordinating local self-help and community development initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18615/96]
In my reply to priority Question No. 44 on today's Order Paper, I outlined the range of measures I have either already taken or are being planned to improve the relationship between the statutory and voluntary and community sectors and the specific supports provided by my Department for local community development initiatives. My Department funds a number of once-off grant schemes which concentrate on support for local self-help groups, community development, welfare rights and information work. In addition substantial funding is provided for a number of programmes which have an anti-poverty focus.
Under the Community Development Programme, or CDP, funding is provided towards the staffing and equipping of local resource centres which provide a focal point for community development activities in an area and to other specialist community development projects. I have committed myself to the proactive targeting of 30 new areas for the establishment of new CDP projects over the next three years and the establishment of an expert technical group to assist and advise me in that regard. The group is being appointed for a two year term. The experience of the process over that period will be evaluated. The group will have the following functions: first, advising me on applications received from groups for funding under the programme; and, second, assisting the Department in drawing up a list of 30 priority areas to be targeted for the development of new projects over the next three years.
In January 1995, an advisory group was established to advise both myself and the Department in relation to the overall policy and development of the community development programme. I am committed to continuing to work closely with the advisory committee and see it as a model of good practice in involving the community sector in decision making and the development of a strategic partnership for social change. My Department will continue dialogue with the advisory committee on funding levels within the CDP, with a view to the strategic development of options to build on the successes achieved to date, while preserving the basic community development programme that has served disadvantaged areas so well while maintaining its accessibility to new communities and projects.
As already announced, I am committed to the expansion of the Money Advice and Budgeting Service to make it available throughout the State. It is expected that this expansion will be complete within the next year. Priority issues for the future are the need to strengthen the community sector's involvement in local projects and enhancement of the preventative and educational work of local projects, to complement the core one-to-one advisory service offered by MABS.
