Vol. 572 No. 6
384 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent of applications received by his Department in respect of community and rural developments in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24263/03]
My Department provides funding to support locally based voluntary and community activity by way of a once-off grants scheme. The types of support offered under this scheme include equipment and refurbishment/premises grants, as well as education, training and research grants.
The scheme was advertised in both the national and provincial newspapers in June 2003 and the closing date for receipt of applications was 7 August 2003. A total of 50 applications have been received from the Kildare area. These, along with the many other applications received, are currently being considered. Officials from my Department will be in touch with the groups as soon as decisions are made in this regard.
Concerning longer-term supports available from my Department through the community development support programmes, my Department is currently funding two projects under these programmes, details attached.
Under the Leader programmes, Kildare European Leader Teoranta – Kelt – was awarded €5,115,000 for the delivery of the programmes over the period 2000 to 2006. Grant applications are received by Kelt who make decisions on projects under operating rules which have been agreed with the EU Commission. In accordance with the bottom-up philosophy of Leader, my Department is not involved in the decision making process.
