Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will take urgent steps to make the necessary funds available to enable a centre (details supplied) to remain open after 30 years of service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14413/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The centre concerned is one of a number of organisations which are funded under my Department's scheme of grants for the development and promotion of information and welfare rights. Since its establishment in 1975, the centre has been funded exclusively by State agencies, including the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, with my Department taking over direct funding in 1995. Annual funding has increased progressively over the years and my Department provided €215,000 to the centre in 2004.

I am fully cognisant of the valuable role which a community-based legal advice service such as the centre concerned can play in the delivery of a comprehensive and cost-effective legal advice service for citizens. However, I am satisfied that my Department is not, in the long term, the most appropriate source of funding for this service having regard to the fact that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for funding legal aid services. Social welfare queries dealt with by the centre in 2004 represented less than 5% of its annual business.

I have, therefore, written to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, regarding future funding of the centre as an integral part of its legal aid services and I will be following this up with him as a matter of urgency.

In the meantime, I am increasing their funding for 2005 to €360,000. This will allow for a breathing space between now and the end of the year during which a solid, long-term strategy can be assembled that will ensure the centre can continue its work into the future.