David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 165 of 9 November 2005, the way in which the funding, with special reference to the extra funding, which his Department received for people with disabilities as published in the expenditure Estimates in November 2004 and subsequently on budget day 2004 has been used or will be used; the way in which this funding has been disbursed; the mechanisms in place to ensure the funding is spent correctly; if he is satisfied that auditing procedures are in place and are adequate in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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My Department's total allocation for 2005 for people with disabilities is €10,979,992, divided across three subheads. Subhead F1, status of people with disabilities, has a budget of €2.997 million, of which €2.06 million is given to organisations in the disability sector in support of their work. All these organisations submit audited accounts annually. All organisations are subject to the normal Government departmental accounting and auditing processes and have been made aware of the relevant requirements in this regard. They also provide regular reports about their activities, which enable my officials to ensure moneys are used to progress the objectives agreed between the organisations and the Department.

The remaining moneys under subhead F1 were spent by my Department mainly on awareness raising initiatives and a variety of smaller projects. All these projects are subject to the normal accounting and procurement procedures of the Civil Service, including expenditure sanction by the Department of Finance as appropriate.

The amount allocated to subhead F2, grant to the National Disability Authority, is €4,982,892 —€2,551,992 for pay and €2.431 million for non-pay expenditure. All expenditure by the National Disability Authority is subject to the same financial controls as outlined in the preceding paragraph.

The amount allocated to subhead F3, enhancing disability services project funding, is €15 million over five years for disbursement to voluntary organisations providing services to people with disabilities. In May of this year my Department publicly advertised the first €6 million available under this subhead for the period 2005 and 2006. Voluntary organisations were asked to submit project proposals which showed an innovative, cost-effective approach to service provision for people with disabilities and had the capacity to be mainstreamed. By the closing date for receipt of applications 134 project proposals had been submitted. All the applications were acknowledged by my Department and forwarded to Area Development Management for appraisal and assessment. Area Development Management has submitted its appraisals and recommendations to an independent expert group which has been formed to oversee and advise me on the allocation of grants under the programme. All the organisations which receive funding under this subhead will be supported and monitored by Area Development Management to ensure the successful start-up and operation of their projects.