Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will provide funding to an association (details supplied) in County Donegal through his Department's programmes of grants for community and voluntary organisations; if he will make funding available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8205/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The organisation in question has received funds from my Department for various projects under the Programme of Grants for Locally Based Community and Voluntary Organisations, as set out as follows:

In addition, I am advised the organisation was granted €534,028 from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2004. Due to the continuing pressures on the public finances, the Programme of Grants for Locally Based Community and Voluntary Organisations was suspended at the end of February 2009. My Department has no plans to re-open it to new applications at present and, accordingly, organisations such at that referred to by the Deputy may wish to pursue alternative sources to secure financial support.

One possible alternative is the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-13, under which funding of €425m is available to improve the quality of life in rural areas and facilitate the diversification of the rural economy. Under the RDP, Local Action Groups (LAGs) distribute funding to community groups and individuals in rural areas across a broad range of activities and measures. Interested community organisations should contact their local LAG who may be able to assist. Contact details for the relevant Co Donegal groups are set out as follows.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 159: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has reduced the funding for the accessible community transport services; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that reductions in funding of the service in Dublin has led to reduced wages for drivers, an increase in fares for those on social welfare payments, the likelihood of a new membership fee and an increased endangering of the viability of the whole operation; if he will consider reversing the cutbacks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8224/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The organisation referred to by the Deputy has had a contract with my Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) for the provision of a range of transport services for people with disabilities. Along with some 315 other organisations, its contract with the CSP expired at the end of December 2009. It has since been extended to the end of 2010 on the same terms and conditions. Under the CSP, the organisation receives one of the larger contributions to deliver services with funding of the order of €289,000 being provided towards the costs of employing a manager and 13.5 full-time equivalents posts in 2010.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the pressure on the public finances has significantly impacted on resources available to the programmes delivered by my Department. My priority with respect to the CSP has been to protect the jobs of some 2,700 people employed by the 450 or so community-based organisations approved for support. In order to do this, it was necessary to reduce the level of non-wage grants paid to service providers, as well as cutting technical assistance and administrative costs.

I have provided a review process where an immediate examination of the impacts of the reduction in support to organisations can be undertaken. Accessible Community Transport Services lodged an review request in late January and I expect a recommendation to be made to me in respect of this matter no later than the 5th March. Finally, it should be noted that organisations providing services under the CSP are required to develop non-public forms of income by way of charging fees, trading or fund-raising, as the programme is not designed to cover the full operating costs of supported organisations.