At present, there are 87 projects participating in the community development programme. A technical group was established in November 1996 to assist the Department in the assessment of applications for inclusion in the programme. The group has the following functions: (a) advising on applications received from existing groups for funding under the programme; and (b) assisting the Department in drawing up a list of 30 priority areas/communities of interest to be targeted for the development of new projects over the next three years, as provided for under Partnership 2000.
The technical group reports to the Minister and is serviced by the Department.
The membership of the technical group is as follows:
Chairperson: Mr. Deaglán Ó Briain, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Secretary: Ms Margaret Dorney, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Ms Claire Casey, Community Action Programme, Ballymun.
Ms Glynis Currie, Framework, Waterford.
Mr. Éamon Deane, Holywell Trust, Derry.
Ms Mary Whelan, Community Action Network.
Mr. Mick Daly, West Clare Resource Centre.
Ms Julie Howley, Combat Poverty Agency.
Ms Siobhán Lynam, ADM.
Ms Mary Murphy, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Mr. Dave Dillon, Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
The group has commenced the process of drawing up a priority list of 30 areas for proactive targeting and inclusion in the community development programme as provided for in Partnership 2000. Work on this list is well under way and it is expected that this task will be completed by the summer of 1998.