Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 304: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of support that will be allocated in 2009 for the programmes of grants to community and voluntary organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9640/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has decided to suspend the programmes of grants to community and voluntary organisations for 2009; if so, the reason this decision has been taken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9641/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his Department has set aside provision for further rounds of the programmes of grants to community and voluntary organisations in 2009 other than the €1.6 million funding announced in February 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9642/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 to 306, inclusive, together.

I refer the Deputy to my reply to his question on 4 March 2009 concerning the suspension of this Programme. As matters stand there is currently provision for €5.30m in 2009 for the Programme of Grants for Locally based Community and Voluntary Organisations. The Programme has been heavily subscribed since it was launched last year and at the end of February, some 480 applications were received. Given this strong level of demand and in the interests of seeking to fund valid applications on hand at end February I have considered it prudent to suspend the programme. The matter will be kept under review in the light of emerging economic circumstances.