Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will respond to a matter regarding grants (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9358/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Up to the end of 2009, the community services programme provided a non-wage grant to contract holders. Due to the worsening public finances, this non-wage grant was discontinued to ensure that available resources were used to maintain and add to the number of persons supported in employment by the programme. A review mechanism was provided that afforded each contract holder the opportunity to seek additional short-term financial support where the discontinuation of the non-wage grant caused financial hardship or where additional resources allowed for the development of alternative income streams.

The company in question sought a review and was awarded an operation support grant of €40,000 for 2010. No commitments were made in respect of future years by the Department or Pobal, which administers the programme on the Department's behalf. The company will be afforded an opportunity to revise and update its business plan on which the level of grant assistance is determined and arrangements in this respect have been put in place for this to be done during the next month. Officials will contact the company to outline the process in the coming days. A determination will be made within the resource available to the programme in 2011.