Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 26: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if it is intended to extend the scope and scale of grant aid through his Department for community, rural or Gaeltacht ventures in the future; if and when extra funding will be available from the dormant insurance account fund or other sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16685/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 118: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of community based, urban or rural groups to which he has extended financial assistance in 2005; his plans to enhance this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16846/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 118 together.

I refer the Deputy to my previous answer to Question No. 212 of 1 February 2005 in relation to funding and supports for community schemes throughout the country in 2005.

Regarding the scope and scale of grant aid through my Department for community, rural and Gaeltacht ventures in the future, the provision in the Estimates for 2005 for the CLÁR programme is €13.7 million, a 13% increase on the 2004 outturn, and this will facilitate the continuation of investment under existing measures of the programme as well as providing scope for the introduction of new measures depending on the needs identified. As in the last three years, CLÁR will continue in 2005 to build on the successes achieved to date in regenerating rural areas. Expenditure of some €35 million over 2002-04 levered out a further estimated €36.5 million in related public and private expenditure into areas which otherwise would have been bottom of the list for infrastructure investment.

Under the community development programme, CDP, 185 community development projects will be funded in 2005. A further five CDPs are in pre-development at present. Funding to these five is likely to be announced later this year, subject to satisfactory workplans being furnished by these projects.

Under the local development social inclusion programme, 38 area partnerships, 31 community partnerships and two territorial employment pacts will be funded in 2005. There are no plans to expand the number of groups funded in 2005.

Under the funding scheme to support the role of federations, networks and umbrella bodies, 32 groups are currently being funded totalling €5.48 million over three years. Under the funding scheme for training and supports, 20 projects are currently being funded totalling €1.83 million over three years. The national anti-poverty networks are being funded to a total of €4.1million over three years.

The Department is funding volunteering through its existing grants to three volunteer groups totalling €829,595 over a three year period. In the new volunteering package, announced in March 2005, core funding will be provided to six further volunteer bureaux totalling €900,000 over the next three years. Funding totalling €150,000 over three years is being provided to Volunteer Centres Ireland for the recruitment of a development officer. A further €500,000 of local area partnership funding is being ring-fenced for measures that encourage volunteers and volunteering. A further €500,000 of the Department's Cohesion Fund will be spent on measures that will promote volunteers and volunteering locally.

Funding totalling €600,000 is being provided to support the young social innovators programme including the Annual Showcase awards, over three years.

Funding, totalling €330,000 over three years, is also being provided to the DIT community learning programme, CLP, which is an example of a new teaching method called service-learning, and it works by integrating classroom learning in any subject with suitable volunteering activity.

The programme of grants for locally based community and voluntary organisations comprises two schemes of once-off grants to local voluntary and community groups: the scheme of equipment and refurbishment grants provides essential physical supports for the local community and voluntary sector; and the scheme of education, training and research grants aimed at enhancing the capacity of local communities. I have increased the funding available for this programme to €2.9 million in 2005 from €2.7 million in 2004.

The scheme of community support for older people encourages and assists local support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. The scheme is operated on an annual basis. Funding is provided by way of grant aid to voluntary groups and organisations on behalf of older people in their community.

Funding can be provided for the following security equipment: window locks, door chains, door locks and security lighting, socially monitored alarm systems and smoke alarms. I have increased the funding available for this programme to €2.8 million in 2005 from €2.4 million in 2004.

My Department's expenditure on the islands has risen from just €2.314 million in 1997 to €13.228 million in 2004 with a further increased allocation of €15.862 million provided for in the 2005 Revised Estimates. This funding facilitates the provision of transport services to the mainland for island communities and assists in improving both public and social infrastructure on the islands. My Department is constantly seeking new ways of ensuring the future of sustainable communities on the islands and, in this context, I have recently announced the establishment of a new scheme, the enterprise scheme for non-Gaeltacht islands, to encourage enterprise development on those islands which do not come under the remit of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

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 Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 provides for significant changes to the disbursement process and for the establishment of a reconstituted board. The Bill completed its passage through both houses of the Oireachtas last Tuesday, 17 May.