Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 398: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of money allocated to the community services programme operated by Pobal on behalf of his Department; if, in this context his attention has been drawn to the fact that some of the applicants for this grant have to undertake the preparation of a significant volume of detailed paperwork which imposes a significant burden on the recipients of such grants in terms of financial projections, recruitment policies, financing policies, quarterly financial returns and financial reserve policies; if he will review this level of requirement which could serve as a deterrent to any person setting up a partly-funded community-based venture; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5294/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Services Programme has been operated by my Department since 1 January 2006. Since that date, more than €84 million has been disbursed by my Department to support approx 330 community projects throughout the country. On behalf of my Department, Pobal assess any applications for funding and review the projects that receive grants. The assessment and review process carried out by Pobal is to ensure that reporting on the projects funded complies with accountability for public funds and has a genuine positive impact on the communities involved. Pobal hosts information seminars and provides ongoing advice to groups applying to and involved in the scheme.

I have been concerned to ensure that the scheme is administered in as simple and accessible a way as possible, while maintaining good practices and in this regard I met with executives of Pobal recently. I asked them to review and if necessary to amend procedures to minimise the administrative burden on community groups while maintaining accountability requirements.