Three schemes relating to community development were transferred in the manner referred to by the Deputy, the community development support programmes (CDSPs); the scheme of once-off grants; and the scheme of community support for older people.
The CDSPs provide financial assistance to locally based groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives in their communities towards the staffing and equipping of community resource centres and other specialised projects and initiatives. Some €21.3 million has been provided this year, compared with an outturn of some €22.5 million in 2002, to meet my Department's commitments under those programmes.
My Department is also responsible for the operation of a scheme of once-off grants, which benefits voluntary and community groups which focus on tackling poverty and disadvantage and work from community development principles. The sum of €2.356 million is provided in this year's Estimates to operate that scheme, compared with an outturn of some €2.662 million in 2002, which is being advertised in the national and local media from today. My Department also operates the scheme of community support for older people, and €3.444 million has been allocated to it in 2003, compared with an outturn of some €2.69 million in 2002.
The Deputy will be aware that two other schemes, the grant scheme for national federations and representative bodies in the voluntary sector, 2003 provision: €1.827 million, and the grant scheme for training and supports in the community and voluntary sector, 2003 provision: €600,000, which had been established but had not yet become operational, have also been transferred to my Department. I look forward to allocating that funding at the end of July. In general, I can assure the Deputy that the allocations made in the current year will be sufficient to meet the obligations arising from the schemes outlined above.