Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if, in view of the 2005 allocation under the scheme of community support for older persons he will formalise earlier application deadlines to allow applicants to henceforth benefit sooner each year. [30689/05]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department advertised the scheme of community support for older people in April of this year, which is more than three months in advance of the previous year's scheme.

I have approved the first tranche of funding to some one hundred applicant groups earlier this month, which has enabled earlier payments than in previous years. Assessment of the remaining applications is in progress and further approvals and payments will be notified to eligible applicant groups over the coming weeks.

Groups are required to account for expenditure of previous grants before they can qualify for a further grant under the scheme. Having regard to this requirement, I intend to progressively advertise the scheme earlier each year over the coming years.