Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the €5 million of funding available through Pobail for integration projects, as announced in budget 2006, will be made available; the criteria which will need to be met by applicants; and the grant levels which will be available. [32364/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Following allocation of this additional €5 million to the Community Services Programme my Department announced details of the new application process in May this year.

The objective of the Programme is to support local community activity to address disadvantage, while providing employment opportunities for people from disadvantaged target groups.

The following are categories of projects eligible to apply for this additional €5m funding:

Community childcare services (excluding those groups currently funded under the Equal Opportunities Childcare Programme except for activities not eligible under this programme).

Community services for the elderly (excluding healthcare provision).

Community services, which support or employ people with disabilities (excluding healthcare provision).

Projects, which support and employ stabilised and recovering drug misusers (excluding healthcare provision).

Community services or community enterprises for island communities.

Community radio.

Community enterprises, which support or employ Travellers (excluding healthcare provision).

Supervising community halls and facilities with a priority focus on disadvantaged areas.

Community heritage centres.

Managed rural walks.

Interested groups were requested to make their application through their local Partnership, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Community Partnership or LEADER office.

Successful applicants will be funded

On a multi annual basis to the end of 2009.

Funding will be subdivided into 3 main components:

Salaries (Manager, staff etc.)

Overheads (rent, heat, light, phone, postage, insurance etc).

Actions.

Grants to existing projects vary from approximately €25,000 to €400,000.

It is hoped that decisions on applications will be notified to the groups by the Department by the end of October.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the type of funding made available by his Department for immigrant support groups and other immigration services; and the number, distribution and amount of grants awarded each year from 2002 to 2005. [32365/06]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding for immigrant support groups under a number of headings.

White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity

Under the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity two immigrant support groups are funded.

Under the Federation and Networks Scheme, Integrating Ireland receive €132,000 over three years 2003-2006.

Under the Anti-Poverty Scheme, The Irish Refugee Council receive €443,505 over three years 2003-2006.

Dormant Accounts

During 2004 and 2005 the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board approved the following allocations from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support immigrant groups:

Following the enactment of the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005, decisions on dormant accounts disbursements are now made by Government. To date in 2006, the allocations in the table have been approved by Government from the Dormant Accounts Fund in respect of supports for immigrant groups.

LDSIP supports for refugees in 2005 and 2006

Refugees were identified — along with asylum seekers — as a target group of the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) at its outset in 2000. Since then, under the LDSIP a significant number of Area-based Partnerships, Community Partnerships and Employment Pacts have developed actions to support refugees, often as part of broader supports for immigrants, including asylum seekers and/or migrant workers.

With regard to expenditure under LDSIP for immigrant groups etc., the position is that the LDSIP data is not currently disaggregated. However, I am informed that in 2005 18% of initiatives under the services to the unemployed measure were for Asylum Seekers & Refugees, 27% of initiatives under the Community Development measure were for that target group as were 9% of initiatives under the Community based Youth Initiatives measure.