Vol. 552 No. 3
127 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Health and Children if there is a scheme in his Department whereby a community group can apply for funding to upgrade a local community hall or obtain funding for other community projects; if a contact or liaison person in his Department co-ordinates such an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12494/02]
The provision of community based health and personal social services within its functional area, is a matter for the relevant health board or the Eastern Regional Health Authority. In the event that the type of initiative referred to by the Deputy is for providing such services, the local health board or the ERHA would be the most appropriate body to contact for grant aid.
It is, of course, also the case that my Department processes applications for national lottery grants in respect of projects which provide community based health and/or personal social services. There is a set protocol in place for processing such applications which involves initial registration in the Finance Unit. The applications are subsequently referred to the relevant service divisions for their assessment, evaluation and recommendation, which often includes consultation with the relevant health board or the ERHA. All applications are then considered in the context of the recommendations and the overall level of funding available.
