Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications for grant aid from community groups received in his Department in each of the past three years and to date in 2010; the degree to which he has responded over that period; his plans for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29028/10]

Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware from a number of previous replies, my Department operates a wide range of grant programmes and schemes and details of these are available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie.

The Deputy will also be aware that information in relation to funding/expenditure by my Department in each of the past five years is available in the published Annual Estimates Volumes and Appropriation Accounts. In addition, details of payments made from subheads part-funded from the National Lottery are listed on my Department's website.

Against this background, the Deputy will appreciate that funding is provided each year to a very large number of individuals, groups, bodies and agencies. I do not consider that the allocation of staff resources that would be required to fully list and detail all of the applications and allocations, as requested, could be justified, particularly in the context where a significant amount of the relevant information is already available on my Department's website or in the annual Appropriation Accounts that are laid before the Oireachtas. If the Deputy has a particular query regarding specific groups, bodies or agencies, I will, of course, be happy to provide the relevant information to the extent feasible.