Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 47: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications his Department has received from non-governmental organisations or national sporting organisations for funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund for each year since its inception; the number of grants not drawn down; if an assessment of the reason for the grants not being drawn down has been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24960/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons — those socially or economically disadvantaged; those who are educationally disadvantaged; and persons with a disability. My Department has responsibility for administering a number of measures through the Fund. One measure specifically focuses on supporting projects identified annually by RAPID Area Implementation Teams, based on a funding allocation to each RAPID area. The other measures were run on a once-off basis and funded projects to enhance access to recreational and personal development opportunities for disadvantaged young people, flagships and to provide continuation funding from projects previously funded by the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Board. While the status of applicants is not formally recorded, experience would suggest that the majority of applicants to my Department for Dormant Accounts funded activities are non-governmental organisations.

In respect of the RAPID Additionality Measure, 200 applications were received in respect of the 2006 round of funding. The majority of applications were from non-governmental bodies and none were from national sporting organisations. Under the same scheme, 369 applications were received for the 2007 round of funding. Again, the majority of applications were from non-governmental bodies and included 19 applications from a national sporting organisation. The project promoters are in the process of drawing down grants under both cycles of this measure at present.

The measure to promote enhanced access to recreational and personal development opportunities for disadvantaged young people attracted a total of 53 applications, all of which were from non-governmental organisations. No applications were received from national sporting organisations. The Government approved funding for 51 organisations of which 50 have agreed to accept grants. One organisation has decided not to take up its allocation.

Under the Flagships measure, my Department received two applications, both of which were from non-government organisations. Additionally, my Department processed 55 applications for continuation funding from projects originally in receipt of funding from the former Dormant Accounts Disbursement Board. All applications were from non-governmental organisations.

Experience would suggest that there are a number of reasons as to why groups do not draw down the funding they have been granted. For example, some groups may decide that the project is no longer necessary or a priority. Others may experience capacity issues in relation to their ability to implement the project. Issues may also arise in relation to compliance with public procurement rules, planning permission and access to additional funding to complete the project.