The Deputy will be aware from replies given on foot of previous questions that my Department and the bodies under its aegis are responsible for a wide number of schemes operated for the benefit of both urban and rural communities across the country. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that under the local development social inclusion programme, which is administered by ADM Limited, funding of some €698,451 was provided to the action south Kildare community group in 2002. A further €626,616 has been allocated to action south Kildare under this programme in 2003. My Department also provides core funding to a community development project in Athy, County Kildare under the community development programme; €73,744 was provided to this project in 2003 and a further €20,000 has already been provided in support in 2003. I have also recently announced my intention to provide core funding to a community development project in Newbridge, County Kildare, funding in the sum of €60,000 to be made available from September 2003 on a one year renewable contract basis.
The Deputy will be aware from material provided on foot of my response to Parliamentary Question No. 24 of 26 March 2003 that my Department received five applications from groups in County Kildare under the CAIT II scheme. In 2002 it received 12 applications under the funding scheme for training and supports in the community and voluntary sector. The assessment of applications under this scheme is at an advanced stage and it is now expected that this process will be completed by the end of July.