Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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Question 454: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the grant and other assistance available from his Department to construct a parish resource centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20919/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department operates a Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Voluntary and Community Organisations. This Programme supports the activities of local groups, addressing disadvantage in their community.

The Programme consists of three schemes as follows:

1. It makes funds available for small scale refurbishment of premises.

2. It provides for the purchase of essential equipment including I.T. equipment.

3. It provides for education, training and research grants.

Grants of up to 90% of the cost are available under this Programme. The maximum grant for Refurbishment is €40,000; for Equipment is €10,000; and for Training, Education and Research is also €10,000. I expect that the 2006 Programme will be advertised in the National and Provincial press in the coming weeks. A copy of the guidelines and the application form will be available on our website, www.pobail.ie immediately thereafter.

The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) provides a series of Measures, funded under the National Development Plan 2000-2006, that are designed to tackle social exclusion, deliver a more sustainable economy, improve employment prospects and balance regional development. These Measures are particularly targeted at the areas of greatest need throughout the country. The LDSIP aims to empower communities in these areas to tackle disadvantage and to have a fresh start.

The LDSIP seeks to improve the quality of life for all members of our communities but specifically targets the following Groups:

∙The long-term unemployed

∙Disadvantaged women

∙Disadvantaged young people

∙Travellers

∙Disabled People

∙Older people

∙Homeless people

∙Ex-prisoners

∙Low-income farm Households

∙Ethnic Minorities

∙Substance Mis-users

∙Lone Parents

∙The underemployed

∙Young people at risk

∙Disadvantaged communities living in isolated rural areas or deprived urban areas.

Pobal administers the LDSIP on behalf of my Department. The LDSIP is delivered by 38 Partnerships, 31 Community groups and 2 Employment Pacts, which are not-for-profit private companies focusing on combating disadvantage and social exclusion in their areas.

Artane lies within the catchment area of the Northside Partnership and support can be sought in the context of the provision of services to any of the above groups.

Northside Partnership

Northside Partnership, Coolock Development Centre, Bunratty Drive, Coolock, Dublin 17

Manager: Ms Marian Vickers

Tel: 01-8485630

Fax: 01-8485661

E-Mail: info@northsidepartnership.ie

Web: www.northsidepartnership.ie