Written answers

Thursday, 14 April 2005

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Community Development

5:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent by which he expects to address any issues of urban or rural disadvantage in County Kildare by way of proceeds from the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11623/05]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the extent by which projects in County Kildare have received assistance from the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11624/05]

Photo of Noel AhernNoel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 114 and 115 together.

As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 274 on 22 February, decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf which involves the disbursement of up to €60 million from the fund.

Following an invitation earlier in 2004 to groups and organisations to make applications for funding, over 1,600 applications were received by ADM. I understand that 21 of the applications received were in respect of proposals in County Kildare. The process of assessing and making decisions on these applications is nearing completion. In this regard, to date the board has approved 475 projects for funding totalling approximately €51.5 million. Ten of the projects approved, involving funding of over €1.4 million, are based in County Kildare. Details, including the names of the approved applicants and the specific grant amounts are appended for information.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 116: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of projects from County Kildare in respect of which he has received requests for grant aid in 2005; the likelihood of a satisfactory response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11625/05]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of projects based in County Kildare in respect of which he proposes to offer grant aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11626/05]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together.

Two existing community development projects within County Kildare are funded under the community development programme. These are the Bridge community development project, Newbridge which receives annual core funding of €62,400 and the Athy community development project which receives annual core funding of €105,400.

North-west Kildare is one of the areas targeted for intervention under the community development programme. In this regard, North-west Kildare Community Development Association has undertaken to prepare and forward a work plan setting out the objectives and actions of the project. The matter will receive further consideration on receipt of the work plan. Leader programmes initiatives are delivered in County Kildare through Kildare European Teoranta. Full details of all Leader projects funded in County Kildare are available on its website at www.kelt.ie.

My Department has recently begun to advertise for grant schemes for 2005 in the community and voluntary sector. Funding is being continued in 2005 under existing programmes to area partnership companies.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of urban-based support programmes set up by his Department in the past 12 months and their location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11627/05]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of community-based rural support programmes set up by his Department in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11628/05]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together.

I refer the Deputy to Question No. 40 of 22 February 2005 which sets out the range of projects and interventions in regard to urban and rural community groups. Within these programmes, there are ongoing initiatives to support local community groups. These include measures such as the roll-out of new community development projects, new RAPID and CLÁR initiatives and the advance of youth services and facilities under the young people's facilities and services fund development programme.

The only new programme introduced in the last 12 months is the rural social scheme which was introduced to focus on the provision of direct services in the community and to ensure an income for farmers and fishermen on long-term social welfare benefits with a working week compatible with such work.

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