Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 March 2023
287. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what her Department has done in relation to the provision of multi annual funding for meals on wheels service providers to allow for planned growth in line with increasing demand; and the progress that has been made to date in relation to standardisation of funding across the sector. [14318/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities.
Funding for meals-on-wheels providers may be available, subject to meeting eligibility criteria, through various funding strands managed by my Department as set out below:
- The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 2,000 positions in more than 420 community organisations to provide a vast range of local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP supports a range of services and activities that enhance the quality of life of older people and those most vulnerable within our communities, including the provision of meals within centres and via a meals-on-wheels service.
The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager, focusing on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical or social isolation or because demand levels are not sufficient.
A new call for applications under the Programme was announced on March 6th last. Pre-application support workshops are being rolled out to ensure organisations are fully equipped with the information that they need to apply for this funding. Organisations that wish to be notified about the workshops should contact csp@pobal.ie.
- The Community Enhancement Programme provides vital supports to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland. The programme has provided over €43 million in funding for over 17,000 projects since 2018, with small grants for the improvement of facilities.
On 18th November last year, I launched the Community Support Fund with funding of €10 million. This fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, is designed to assist community groups across the country with their energy/running costs, and will also provide funding for small capital works projects.
The Community Support Fund is being administered on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. Groups should contact their local LCDC for further details on the application process.
- LÁR : The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures.
The CLÁR 2022 programme awarded more than €12 million in funding for 292 projects. The 2023 Programme will be announced shortly and information in respect of the Measures to be funded will be published on my Department's website.
- Social Enterprise: Many community organisations and meals-on-wheels providers are social enterprises and may apply for any scheme run by my Department under the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) Social Enterprise Measure.
Past DAF schemes include small capital grants schemes and the Scaling-up Scheme for Social Enterprise. The DAF schemes are not currently open to applications however details of any forthcoming schemes will published on the DRCD website.
- LEADER : Funding may be available through the LEADER Programme which is a multi-annual programme delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) around the country.
Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The list of all Local Action Groups, their Implementing Partners and their contact details, is available on the Gov.ie website.
Queries relating to the application process for any of the programmes listed above can be forwarded directly to my Department and contact details can be found on the website gov.ie.
I would also encourage interested parties to stay in touch with their Local Development Company, their Local Community Development Committee and their Local Authority so that they are aware of grant schemes from across Government Departments and state agencies, as they become available.
