Written answers

Tuesday, 7 October 2008

Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs

Community Development

9:00 pm

Photo of Jackie Healy-RaeJackie Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 327: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will reassess the situation regarding co-funding in the Leader Programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33437/08]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the overall funding of €425m that will be available under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme is almost three times the funding available under the last LEADER Programmes. In addition, the rates of aid and maximum levels of funding available are significantly increased, in particular for non-commercial community projects.

I am aware of the provisions of the Programme restricting co-funding with other public bodies. Notwithstanding the significantly increased funding and rates of aid available, I am in favour of facilitating co-funding with certain other public bodies in particular circumstances, however, this will require a change to the Rural Development Programme. As this is an EU co-funded programme requests for changes must follow a particular protocol and my Department is currently in the process of preparing a submission to the European Commission in this context. I will report the outcome of this process as soon as it is complete.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason community service applicants will not be notified until September 2009 about their applications, with funding not coming on stream until early 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33655/08]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Services Programme (CSP) is managed and funded by my Department. As the Deputy is aware, the purpose of the Programme is to support voluntary and community groups in the wider community to provide essential services and employment opportunities with an emphasis on the alleviation of disadvantage. Currently, some 350 projects are in contract to provide services under the Programme and ranging across a wide variety of activities.

In March of this year, I launched the 2008 call for proposals to be submitted by the end of June. The published criteria set out very clearly the processes and timetable that would be used to offer contracts to successful applicants for the delivery of services funded by the Programme. Some 254 applications and expressions of interest were received: 100 applications were in respect of community halls and facilities; 95 in respect of community services and 59 for community enterprise. Applications received by the end of June were acknowledged during July and an initial appraisal of the each application was undertaken during August and September to ensure eligibility and completeness of documentation.

In line with the published timetable, I expect that recommendations in respect of the community halls and facilities strand will be submitted to me for decision later this month and successful applicants can expect to receive notification of the result of their application by the end of November 2008.

With regard to the other two strands, appraisal of expressions of interest will be completed before the end of November or early December. I expect to be in a position to make decision on these by the end of January at the latest. Applicants who are successful under the call for expressions of interest will then be considered further in the light of the financial measures available to the Department in 2009.

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