Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 7: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will allow emigrant groups working on behalf of Irish emigrants overseas to be permitted to apply for funding from the Dormant Funds Account; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31205/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have dealt with this issue comprehensively on a number of occasions, in particular my reply to Question Number 60 on 21 March 2006.

I wish to repeat that this Government is fully committed to providing continued supports to Irish communities living abroad. This commitment is clearly demonstrated by the allocation of significant funding directly from the Exchequer to support emigrant organisations. Indeed the funding in 2006 amounts to over €12 million, an increase of 45% on 2005.

In light of the significant allocation of funding to support emigrant organisations already in place, I repeat that it is my intention that allocations from the Dormant Accounts Fund will continue to focus on tackling disadvantage in Ireland.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 9: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the details of the recent allocation of €11.35 million in funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support 188 projects in RAPID areas; the type of projects that have been funded; the breakdown of the funding to each project; if he will provide a further round of funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31284/06]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 13: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the allocations made under the Dormant Accounts Fund since recent changes in its operation. [31224/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 13 together.

Following the enactment of the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005 the Government approved the allocation of €60 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006. In this regard, €24 million is being allocated towards projects tackling economic and social disadvantage; €18 million towards projects tackling educational disadvantage and €18 million towards projects assisting persons with a disability.

On 4th January 2006, following Government approval, I announced details of the €24 million allocation for the purpose of supporting the following programmes and projects tacking economic and social disadvantage:

RAPID Programme — up to €11.5m to be ring-fenced to provide additional supports for priority projects in RAPID areas;

Support for Priority Themes — €7.5m for specific measures supporting youth, older people and other priority themes (including suicide prevention; alcohol misuse; supports for immigrant families; supports for offenders/ex-offenders); and

Support for Jointly Funded Flagship Projects — €5 for innovative measures addressing matters of major public concern, which also involve substantial funding from private, philanthropic or community sources.

The roll-out of these measures is well underway. In early July, I announced the details of the 188 priority projects in RAPID areas approved by Government for funding totalling €11.35 million. Full details of these allocations are available on the website of my Department at www.pobail.ie. Within the projects approved, there is great diversity both in scale and purpose. Examples include refurbishments to community facilities; supports for youth art and information technology projects; funding for football summer workshops etc.

In August, I announced that the Government had approved the allocation of €574,989 from the Dormant Accounts Fund to fund six projects providing employment supports to vulnerable immigrant families. In relation to the other measures approved for funding in 2006, it is anticipated that further announcements will be made over the coming months as the applications received under these various measures are fully processed and recommendations made to Government in accordance with the legislation.

The arrangements in relation to the next round of funding in 2007 are currently under consideration. In this regard, the Deputies will be aware that the legislation requires the Minister to consult other appropriate Ministers for the purpose of developing a proposal for submission to Government for approval. This process has commenced and I hope to be in a position to bring a proposal to Government shortly concerning the 2007 round of funding. The possibility of ring-fencing further funding for RAPID areas will be considered in this context.