Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for laying out the details of what the community has done in getting the project running. It is always very impressive when volunteer work at that level brings something to life.

I want to add a couple of points on the applications. They will be assessed and scored in accordance with the marking scheme set out, and that reflects the pilot programme aim, objectives and eligibility criteria. Consideration will be given to a number of other issues, such as geographic and regional spread and the range of issues covered. Successful projects will be selected by a panel selected for that purpose, chaired by my Department and comprising representatives from Pobal and nominees from Community Work Ireland and the Irish Local Development Network.

It is important to say we received a very large number of valid applications and a very large number of very worthy proposals. If a project proposal is not selected, we will explore ways that the need identified might be addressed via some of our other funding programmes. I will consider the overall volume of applications and the strong quality of the applications to pursue growth in the Department’s programmes to address the needs identified by people and organisations at grassroots level.

For the applications that have come in, we will consider he value within them in the broader scheme of things going forward. I genuinely thank people for the work that has gone into them.