Vol. 551 No. 2
386 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason three community development support programme workers have been let go in counties Mayo and Galway; if it is proposed to have further workers lose their jobs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8449/02]
My Department operates a number of long-term funding programmes, the purpose of which is to provide core funding for groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in their communities. The funding provided for the community development support programmes in 2002 amounts to some €27.65 million and represents an increase of €4.67million on funding made available to the programmes in 2001.
In general, core funding provided under my Department's community development support programmes provides for the employment of a maximum of two full time staff equivalent together with the administration and general operating costs of the project. The additional funding secured by my Department in recent years has allowed for the approval of substantial increases in core funding to all projects funded under the community development support programmes.
In the 1998 budget, an allocation of £300,000 was made available for projects funded under the community development programme specifically to apply for additional time limited funding for work, usually to cover the employment costs of a worker, necessary to the effectiveness of the programme but not otherwise resourced at that time. This enhanced funding scheme operated from 1998 to 2000 during which time a total of €4.475 million, including commitments for 2001-02, has been committed to projects. All funding commitments previously approved under this scheme have been met by my Department.
No new applications for funding or applications for continued funding of existing posts under the enhanced funding scheme were invited in 2001 pending a review of the scheme. This review has been completed and is currently under consideration by my Department. While a decision regarding the future operation of the scheme has yet to be determined, I emphasise that all existing funding commitments will be honoured.
