Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 24 Feb 1998

Vol. 487 No. 6

Written Answers - Grant Payments.

Pat Carey

Ceist:

253 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs whether an application was received from a group (details supplied) under the grants scheme; whether he will renew their grant in 1998 in view of the exceptional work which is being carried out by this group; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4587/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The group mentioned by the Deputy submitted an application for funding under the 1997 scheme of grants for lone parents administered by my Department.

The purpose of this scheme was to provide funding for initiatives to assist lone parents to return to work or to take up second chance education and training opportunities.

Grants were payable under the scheme for: personal development courses; outreach and support initiatives; foundation and pre-vocational skills courses, and childminding and cre che facilities. The emphasis of the scheme is on making relatively small grants to a large number of local groups and the maximum grant available under the scheme is 90 per cent of the cost of the initiative.

The group concerned submitted an application for £5,000 in 1997 in respect of the cost of programmes of support and counselling for lone parents who are bereaved, separated or divorced.

Funding for counselling services was outside the remit of the scheme of grants for lone parents or of any of the other grant schemes administered by my Department in 1997. Consequently it was not possible to fund the group in 1997.

In 1998 responsibility for counselling and family mediation services has been transferred to my Department from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Details of a new scheme providing funding for these services will be announced shortly. The group are welcome to reapply for funding when the new scheme is announced.

Bernard Allen

Ceist:

254 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the payments which have been made to voluntary organisations in the Cork city area in 1997 and to date in 1998. [4611/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

My Department provides funding for community and voluntary organisations under a range of schemes and programmes. The Department provides these supports in recognition of the important role that voluntary groups have in: improving the quality of peoples' lives; supporting family life and parenting; facilitating local communities address problems facing them and seeking ways to break the poverty cycle and generally developing their community.

Details of all grants paid in 1997 are currently being compiled and will shortly be made available in the Oireachtas Library for the information of members. The 1998 grant scheme was recently advertised and the closing date for receipt of applications is 12 March 1998. No payments have yet been made in respect of that scheme.