Bertie Ahern (Dublin Central, Fianna Fail)

There is already extensive public funding of voluntary organisations across a wide range of Departments and the majority of jobs in voluntary organisations are directly supported by public funds. Some people have even argued that this tips the balance away from direct voluntary participation in some organisations. I do not subscribe to that view because I do not see how organisations can raise funds for their own positions and salaries. It is important that an initiative in direct community and voluntary effort should be supported and the terms upon which public funds are made available should be promulgated widely and made capable of being assessed in the most consumer-friendly way possible, consistent with the proper rules.

With regard to the decision by the Minister of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs to cease core funding for the Community Workers Co-operative, the particular form of funding which was involved in the co-operative movement had criteria attached to it. The Minister and his Department are responsible for ensuring these criteria are met. I had planned on finding out more about this particular case yesterday because Deputy Rabbitte had highlighted it, but I will check on it for the Deputy. I am not in position to give information about the decision or the criteria that were used to judge the co-operative's application. An issue that arises with many of these organisations, although I do not know if it applies to this particular organisation, is that they are established on a pilot basis for a few years and then immediately wish to become mainstream, which is another major problem. I know that the Community Workers Co-operative is eligible to apply for funding under many other headings and I am sure it will examine that. I think I advised it to do so when it wrote to me some time ago. However, I will check on what is the latest position.

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