Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 21: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the changes to the programme of grants to community and voluntary organisations; the date these new changes will come into force; the reason behind the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24955/08]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the plans he has to increase funding provided to the programme of grants to community and voluntary organisations following the changes in the application rules of these grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24958/08]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 36 together.

My Department funds two Programmes aimed at supporting the activities of community and voluntary groups with a focus on addressing disadvantage or where evidence of need has been clearly identified in their communities. The first Programme provides grants to smaller community and voluntary groups to support refurbishment work and the equipping of community facilities. The second Programme aims to enhance the capacity and activities of people and organisations working in the community and voluntary sector to improve governance and provide better quality services to the people they support.

Funding of €9m is being provided for the Programmes this year. Both Programmes were advertised in the first week of June this year and they contain some key improvements over previous programmes. These include:

an increase from €40,000 to €60,000 in the level of grants available for refurbishment work;

greater targeting of the resources available on disadvantaged communities;

simplifying the application process; and

a broadening of the eligibility of both Programmes.

My Department has also taken the opportunity to combine two previous schemes into a single Programme of Training Supports. The revisions of the Programmes are designed to simplify access for community and voluntary groups and to ensure better targeting of the resources available.