Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 October 2004
278 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when funding will be provided to a community centre (details supplied) in County Mayo; when the application for funding was received in his Department; when he expects to announce funding for it; and the stage the application is at. [26453/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe programme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations for 2004 offers two schemes of once-off grants to local voluntary and community groups. These are the scheme of equipment and refurbishment grants which provides essential physical supports for the local community and voluntary sector, and the scheme of education, training and research grants which is aimed at enhancing the capacity of local communities. An application was received from the group in question on 31 May 2004.
The process of assessment of the large number of applications received under the scheme is nearing completion and I expect to make an announcement on funding within the next week. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application shortly thereafter.
279 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the recent report, How are our Kids?, in west Tallaght; and the new measures or sanctions he proposes to introduce in response to the considerable problems highlighted in the report. [26656/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would firstly like to welcome this report, which has highlighted a number of issues facing the community in west Tallaght. As the Deputy is aware, this matter is being debated in the House this week in the context of a Private Members' motion and I took the opportunity during the first part of that debate yesterday evening to fully outline the extent of the Government's commitment to respond positively to the recommendations in the report.
In particular, the Government is committed to the continued effort to address the challenge of anti-social behaviour. This effort includes such initiatives as the ongoing Garda Síochána youth diversion projects and juvenile diversion programme which operate in communities nationwide, including Tallaght. A review is ongoing by Garda management of current and future accommodation requirements of the Garda Síochána in Tallaght, with a number of different options being considered with a view to finalising proposals in the near future.
The Government has given an ongoing commitment of significant funding for the support and creation of child care places in the Tallaght area, with over €4.4 million allocated to the area to date for this purpose. The improvement in early school provision is also a priority through initiatives such as the provision of Early Start pre-school places for children at risk of social disadvantage. Other educational measures include reading support programmes and extra teaching resources to decrease pupil-teacher ratios. Additional support to reduce early school-leaving is provided through the disadvantaged areas scheme and the school completion programme.
The Government is committed to further improve the environment in the estates surveyed and continue with the housing estate enhancement scheme initiated this year under the RAPID programme. Some €7 million of investment in RAPID areas under the second phase of the equality for women measure is earmarked for projects benefiting women in these areas and includes a number of applications from groups in the west Tallaght area. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform expects to be in a position to allocate funding under the measure by the end of the year. The Government is also developing mechanisms which will lead to better delivery by the RAPID programme, including better local co-ordination, the leverage fund for small works, and the ring-fencing of funds under the dormant accounts fund towards RAPID areas. We will continue to develop the RAPID initiative in all its strands beyond 2006, including an ongoing commitment to the further prioritisation of RAPID areas in decision-making by Departments.
