Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 96: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he is planning to support and fund 50% of the cost of building a new facility for a college (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14970/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department has received correspondence from the college referred to by the Deputy in relation to development of a new facility. The college has been asked to submit a formal application for assistance under my Department's Scheme for Community and Recreational Facilities in the Gaeltacht. Upon receipt of a completed application, my Department will proceed to examine it in the normal way, having regard to the conditions of the scheme and taking into consideration the funding available to my Department for such projects.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 97: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if financial help will be made available to community groups which must have professional audit accounts available when applying for grants which is placing community groups under financial pressure; and if he will recommend a less expensive way of providing means when providing accounts with applications. [15015/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that community and voluntary organisation are subject to the same compliance requirements under Company Law and other relevant legislation as other private and commercial organisations. Depending on the nature of the funds granted, community groups applying for grants are required to provide some evidence of their financial affairs either by the submission of simple statements of income and expenditure for smaller organisations where the level of grant is low, or audited financial statements where the grant is significant and the beneficiary is a registered as company or co-operative.

As a general rule, my Department has taken the opportunity to ensure that the financial reporting requirements are proportionate to the level and nature of grant assistance and that the accountability and reporting obligations required by this House are met to a satisfactory level. As with all our programmes and schemes, guidance notes, operating manuals and staff support is available to groups receiving funding to assist them in complying with these requirements. These requirements are not additional to the legislative or regulatory requirements under which such groups operate. Where the opportunity has arisen, my Department has streamlined the application and reporting requirements to ensure that additional costs are not imposed.

In these circumstances, I have no plans to provide additional financial support of the type suggested by the Deputy.