Alan Kelly
Ceist:801. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to address the drop of funding and consequent service delivery by critical charities due to Covid-19. [14911/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 14 July 2020
Ceisteanna (801)
Freagraí scríofa
Charities, community organisations and social enterprises, along with the volunteers who assist them, have been an integral part of our country’s response to this pandemic. A cessation in income generating activities and fundraising, as a consequence of COVID-19 restrictions, has severely impacted many of these same organisations.
My Department has responded to the urgent needs of charities, community and voluntary organisations and social enterprises experiencing such financial difficulties. There has been no reduction in the funding awarded to charities from my Department, with some additional financial supports being introduced with this critical need in mind.
In conjunction, new flexibilities have also been implemented in existing support schemes and programmes, supporting these organisations to find new and innovative ways of adapting and delivering essential services in a changing economic and societal landscape.
In April 2020, my Department launched a €2.5 million COVID-19 Emergency Fund for those groups taking part in the ‘Community Call’. Administered through the Local Authorities, this initiative was an immediate response to support the emergency efforts by community and voluntary groups in assisting people at a local level.
Separately, my Department introduced a €40 million package of supports for community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises. The €35 million COVID-19 Stability Fund delivers a once-off cash injection to those organisations providing critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and are in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19. The first tranche of this fund, totalling €10.5 million, was allocated in late June 2020 to 179 qualifying organisations.
€5 million has also been committed to The Innovate Together Fund, which is also accepting philanthropic donations. The focus of this Fund is on responses to the COVID-19 crisis that will deliver innovative and adaptive solutions to existing and emerging social challenges. These innovations will support the most vulnerable in our society, those most affected by the crisis and will ultimately help to make our society more inclusive, equal and sustainable.
The Government recognises that significant challenges remain for community and voluntary groups and charities during this time. Collaboration and partnership between the sector and the State are key to co-ordinating and responding to the needs of our communities. My Department will continue to work closely with the sector in managing through these challenges over the coming months.