Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 663: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 7 February 2006 regarding funding for a project (details supplied), if a request has been received from the Garda authorities for additional funding for this project in Dublin 1. [10675/06]

Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 679: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Parliamentary Question No. 461 of 7 February 2006 regarding funding for the NICKOL project, if a request has been received from the Garda authorities for additional funding for this project in Dublin 1. [10757/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 663 and 679 together.

The NICKOL Garda youth diversion project has been allocated a provisional grant of €109,060 for 2006, which represents an increase of 2% on the project's grant allocation for 2005. The project was informed of this by letter from my Department on 2 January 2006. A first instalment of €35,000 also issued to the project on that date.

The grant allocation is provisional and it may be revised following examination by my Department of the project's audited accounts for 2005 and projected expenditure for 2006. In accordance with the Garda youth diversion project guidelines, each project is required to submit each year its audited accounts and annual report for the previous year to my Department for consideration. The annual report should include a breakdown of projected expenditure and a work plan for the current year. The 2006 deadline for receipt of this information was 28 February.

A budget of €6.6 million has been provided for the Garda youth diversion projects and local drugs task force projects in 2006. This represents an increase of 21% on last year's budgetary allocation. It is my intention to increase the financial allocation to each existing project this year by 2% and to apply the balance to supporting the expansion of Garda youth diversion projects over the next two years. I have asked the Garda Commissioner to bring forward proposals for further projects. My target is that there will be 100 schemes established nationwide before the end of 2007.

My Department has recently received correspondence from the community relations section of the Garda Síochána in relation to a request for funding from the NICKOL project. Every effort is made to meet the projected expenditure needs of each project within the limits of the resources I have secured.