Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 3: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding funding to the State assisted community and voluntary groups on the northside of Dublin City; if funding to such groups has been reduced in recent years; if the number of community groups in this area that are seeking funding has increased or decreased in recent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8127/11]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 5: To ask the Minister for Community; Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of community groups that have applied for funding for the first time between 2010 and 2011; the way that number compares to previous years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8129/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 5 together.

In relation to the Deputy's first question, I assume he is referring to the process of cohesion of local delivery structures which my Department has been pursuing in recent years, in order to simplify and enhance the effectiveness of the delivery of a range of local development programmes. In January 2010, the local development social inclusion and community development programmes were superseded by the local and community development programme, LCDP. A key difference between the new programme and its predecessor programmes is that when it is fully implemented it will be delivered through an integrated delivery structure in each of the 52 local development company areas.

In advance of proceeding to establish a single integrated programme, my Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects, CDPs, in 2009. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. Following the review process, funding was withdrawn from three CDPs in the north inner city area of Dublin.

More generally, while a national model involving full integration was set out by the Department, it was made clear that other options could be considered once they met a range of criteria including reduced structures, better integrated delivery of services, supporting efficiencies and reducing company law compliance requirements for CDPs, a direction in which many of them wished to go.

In this context, over the past year or so my Department has been progressing the integration of some 140 CDPs, either with the local development companies or through an alternative mechanism. I am pleased to report that this work was largely completed by the end of March 2011. To date, six alternative models have been approved and these include a proposal from the Northside Partnership which involves a reduction in the number of structures from five to two in the catchment area.

The Deputy should also note that three CDPs have formally opted out of the programme and are no longer receiving funding in 2011. These include a project based in Kilbarrack. In such cases, my Department has asked the local development companies, including the Northside Partnership, for proposals to fill any gaps in service provision that are arising. A number of such proposals are currently being examined.

In terms of funding in 2011, Deputies will be interested to note the allocations to the local development companies have been only marginally reduced compared to 2010, by approximately 3%. I am confident that this will allow for the continuation of important support for people in disadvantaged communities and will allow for the key essential front line services, delivered through the programme, to be maintained this year.

In regard to the Deputy's second question, my Department supports and manages a broad range of schemes and programmes across a number of different business areas. These include local and community development, tackling drug misuse, rural development, the Irish language, Gaeltacht and island development, dormant accounts and family support.

In many instances, community groups do not apply directly to my Department for funding, rather they apply to their local Leader or partnership company or drugs task force or, in some instances, to Pobail, which manages a range of schemes on behalf of my Department. Consequently, the Department has been unable in the time available to collate the details sought by the Deputy regarding the number of community groups that applied for funding for the first time in 2011, as opposed to 2010, and how this number compares to previous years.

However, if the Deputy has a specific scheme or programme in mind, I will be happy to ask my Department, or Pobail, as appropriate, to provide him with the relevant information as soon as possible.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I thank the Minister for her detailed response. This is my first opportunity to wish her well in her new job. I know she has a strong interest in the issues raised in today's question.

Does the Minister and her Government value the huge amount of work done by the community and voluntary sector for many years in this country? This type of community patriotism should be recognised and supported. In the current economic climate, does she accept that she has role in protecting these voluntary services? What strategies does she have to do this in 2011 and 2012?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In the programme for Government, protecting the most vulnerable is a key priority and working with communities, especially disadvantaged communities, is central to that. In my reply, I outlined the funding for this sector for 2011 and how it has been protected. Nonetheless, there is a 3% decline in funding, but the amount of funding that has been allocated is indicative of the central role that we would expect the community and voluntary sector to play in the immediate future and in the long term as well.

We are protecting and supporting this sector with the reforms that have been brought in. We want to ensure that these programmes survive and we are looking for greater efficiencies. We are looking to take some of the onerous pressures off the management of the community groups by co-ordinating things at a macro level. That is supportive of those groups. In the main, many of them have welcomed it. This means change and that has been difficult for some of the groups. I acknowledge that and I know it from meeting some of the groups. However, once the services and the jobs are being protected, they have welcomed the re-organisation.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Will the Minister strongly support groups like Northside Centre for the Unemployed in Coolock, and the Kilbarrack Group, which deals with young people at risk in disadvantaged areas? There is a major problem for the Justice for the Forgotten group, which is based in Gardiner Street. The previous Government slashed its funding, and its members had to go to the Pat Finucane Centre to get new funding to keep it going. It supports the families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Will the Minister look at these as priority issues?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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If the Deputy supplies me with the details of those groups, I would be happy to follow up.

In advance of establishing a single, integrated programme, the Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects in 2009. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. Where projects were not recommended for continued funding - 29 in total - I want to reassure the House that an appropriate, independent appeals mechanism was put in place, and 24 CDPs appealed to the Department. The appeals board completed its work on 29 January 2010 and the report has been published on the Department's website. In ten cases, the Department's decision was overturned. Following the review process, the LCDP funding was withdrawn from three community development projects in the north inner city area. I can provide details of those to the Deputy if he would like them.