Vol. 554 No. 5
1713 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the non-governmental organisations funded or grant-aided under the various schemes run by her Department; the amount provided; and the purpose for which it was provided in the past year for which information is available. [16727/02]
My Department administers the funding for a number of programmes and grant schemes ranging from small, once-off grants to three year renewable funding commitments.
The family and community services resource centre programme focuses particularly on combating disadvantage by improving the functioning of the family unit. Centres can provide special services for lone parent families, young mothers and others considered in need of extra support and can act as a first step to community participation and social inclusion for the most vulnerable and marginalised families. Expenditure on family resource centres in 2001 amounted to €2,654,660.
There were 50 money advice and budgeting service projects around the country at the end of 2001. These projects provide an advice and budget management service to people in difficulty with moneylending and over indebtedness. Expenditure on the MABS programme in 2001 amounted to €8,267,924.
Details of all payments made under the above programmes, to end 2001, have been made available to the Oireachtas Library for the information of Members. Details of the 2002 payments and grants will likewise be made available early in 2003.
The Department administers a scheme of grants to voluntary organisations providing marriage counselling services, marriage preparation courses, child counselling services in relation to parental separation and bereavement counselling and support services.
A total of €6.659 million was allocated in 2002 for the further development of this programme. This year 463 organisations benefited from it and over 90% of the funding has been paid out to date. A copy of the schedule, as at April, of organisations who were allocated grant aid under the scheme has been submitted to the Oireachtas Library and is available for the information of Members.
A scheme awarding grants towards the development and promotion of second chance education opportunities is designed to assist programmes, projects and initiatives which provide second chance education opportunities to the long-term unemployed and other disadvantaged groups. The overall objective is to encourage those target groups to return to education and training as a means of improving their educational qualifications with a view to returning to the labour force. Details of the organisations which received funding under this scheme in 2001 will be provided to the Deputy.
