Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Hogan. The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector commenced in 2008 under the then Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. This scheme amalgamated and replaced schemes previously operating under the White Paper on Supporting Voluntary Activity.

The scheme aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. The current funding scheme commenced in July 2011 and was due to expire in December 2013. However, as the Senator pointed out, the scheme was extended to the end of June 2014, with a view to a new scheme commencing from 1 July. The overall budget for 2014 under both the old and new schemes, is approximately €3.1 million.

During 2013 officials in the Department carried out a review of the scheme. The terms of reference for the review of the scheme included an examination of the extent to which the objectives, rationale and approach of the scheme remain valid and made recommendations regarding the future role and scope of the scheme. The review found that the scheme has fulfilled its main objective of providing multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. The funding of a range of national networks and organisations can be seen to enhance the capacity of the community and voluntary sector to organise itself at a national level and to raise standards across the sector. The review also found that the scheme is in line with objectives set out under the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity.

Following the recommendations contained in the review, the new scheme will continue in a broadly similar manner to the current approach. The review recommended that organisations be required to clearly demonstrate the need for the funding requested, how the need was identified, the added value of the work proposed, how the proposed activities will demonstrate value for money and how the organisation will collaborate, co-ordinate and engage in partnership work with other relevant agencies and organisations. Seeking this level of detail, both during the application process and as necessary during the running of the scheme, will improve the targeting of available resources. In particular, it will assist in identifying measurable outcomes and goals associated with organisations across a wide range of funding areas. The effective use of core funding in recipient organisations also requires that robust governance and cost-control procedures are in place within those organisations, particularly at board level, and that will also form a key element of the assessment process.

The new scheme was advertised for applications during quarter one of this year. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, has asked Pobal to undertake an assessment of the applications received, and this process, from submission of applications to notification of successful applicants, took place during quarters 1 and 2 of this year. Pobal has significant experience of both the design of assessment criteria and the completion of assessment functions. The recommendation or decision on a proposal for funding, or the suitability of a plan, is not simply reduced to numerical calculations. The process includes other considerations, such as the social and economic benefits, consistency with current policies and long-term vision. This approach is predicated on the bringing together of the relevant information, using experience, evidential analysis, a consideration of the consequences, the options and the risks and coming to a decision or recommendation which is defendable and accountable.

Notwithstanding the comprehensive assessment and appraisal approach that was undertaken, it is the case that a large number of the applicant organisations sought the maximum level of funding available or in some cases an amount in excess of the maximum funding available. As a result, the number of organisations that could potentially be funded under the scheme, within the budget available, was significantly lower than for previous schemes. The Minister, Deputy Hogan, has concerns in that regard and he is considering the issue carefully as he is anxious to make funding available to as many organisations as possible in these difficult times. He will conclude his assessment in the near future and will announce the scheme allocations immediately thereafter.