Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am pleased to have an opportunity to address the Seanad on the funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector and thank the Senator for raising this important issue.

The scheme aims to provide multi-annual funding for national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. During 2013 a review of the scheme was undertaken. It found that while the scheme had fulfilled its main objective of providing multi-annual funding for national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services, there was a need for the organisations funded under the scheme to demonstrate clearly the added value of the work proposed.

A new scheme to support national organisations was advertised for applications early last year. The Department requested Pobal to undertake an assessment of the applications received, given that organisation's significant experience and expertise in both the design of assessment criteria and the completion of assessment functions. In this context, Pobal put in place a dedicated team to deal with inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. Furthermore, an appeals process was put in place, on foot of which Pobal submitted a report, which it is considering. Some 157 applications were received by Pobal. A total of 55 applications were approved for funding in the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. In excess of €8 million is being provided by the Department in the two-year period, representing an increase in funding of more than 10% per annum compared to the previous scheme.

The Government is very mindful of the valuable work undertaken by national organisations in the community and voluntary sector. While it was known that the existing scheme was ending on 30 June 2014 and applications were sought for the new scheme with no guarantee of continued funding, it was clear that organisations had become increasingly dependent on this funding. Against that background, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, announced on 18 July 2014 the allocation of bridging funding of €1.4 million to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations for a 12-month period, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. The Department is engaging with the Department of Health to advance the review. The review has been designed to ensure efficiency in the use of public money and the avoidance of duplication, while providing appropriate support for organisations working in the sector. I confirm that all organisations in receipt of bridging funding and a number of others were invited to make submissions as part of the review process. It is intended to complete and publish the outcome of the review as soon as possible.