Tony Gregory
Ceist:185 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his response to the grant application (details supplied) from Access Ireland, Dublin 7. [14463/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Applications.
An application from Access Ireland for inclusion in this Department's community development support programmes was received in July 2000. Department officials met with the group on 28 September 2000 to discuss their application.
A support unit within the National Consultative Committee for Racism and Interculturalism, NCCRI, is being funded under the community development programme to support groups working with asylum seekers and refugees in the use of community development strategies and to identify and support groups who have the potential to become part of the community development support programmes.
The NCCRI were consulted with regard to this application and indicated that the work of Access Ireland was consistent with their approach.
The application was submitted in January, for consideration, to the technical group which assists and advises me in the task of selecting new areas and assessing applications for inclusion in the community development support programmes. The technical group indicated that it saw merit in supporting Access Ireland.
However, as the manager of the community development support programmes, my Department has a responsibility to ensure that the selection process is as informed as possible, that there is no duplication with other funding programmes and that funding is targeted as effectively as possible.
Officials of my Department established that Access Ireland had applied for funding under the European Refugee Fund which operates under the aegis of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and that a decision regarding this application is imminent.
In addition, the Regional Support Agency with responsibility for this area – Tosach – will shortly undertake a needs analysis of ethnic communities in Dublin's North Inner City.
The outcome of Access Ireland's application to the European Refugee Fund and the results of the needs analysis research will inform the Department's further consideration of Access Ireland's application for inclusion in this Department's community development support programmes.