Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 541: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government his views on addressing the regulations which relate to community and voluntary fora and place a burden of fees for auditors and accountants on such fora; his further views that this sector does good work and provides a service to communities across the State and that existing legislation places a burden on these organisations which might hamper their ability to fulfil their role. [22984/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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I presume that the Question refers to the obligations some community and voluntary groups, who have established and/or manage companies, have under the Companies Acts. Legislation in relation to Company Law and issues arising in this context are a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation.

The Government fully recognises the value of the work carried out by community and voluntary organisations (including the Community and Voluntary Fora), which complements State endeavours in the community area. The Community and Voluntary Fora provide an important input to the work of local authorities, particularly in the context of their membership of local authority structures such as the Strategic Policy Committees, Joint Policing Committees and County/City Development Boards.

I recently approved allocations totalling €587,000 to the Fora to support their work. Such funding is in addition to any other supports provided by individual local authorities including meeting the expenses of community representatives on the aforementioned local authority structures. In addition, on 2 June 2011 I approved a further €55,000 per annum to the Irish National Community and Voluntary Forum for the next two and half years, subject to annual budgetary review. This is on top of the €19,000 already allotted to this body as part of the overall Fora allocation. The National Community and Voluntary Forum is the representative body of the Fora.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 543: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if matching funding requirements will be reduced for community groups and private organisations seeking funding assistance from partnership organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23010/11]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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In general the Rural Development Programme (RDP) offers a 50% rate of aid for private promoters and a 75% rate of aid for community promoters. My Department keeps under review means of making the RDP more accessible and understandable for promoters. While increased rates of aid are being considered, any such change to the RDP would have implications for the overall impact of the Programme and would require the approval of the European Commission. Should a decision be taken to increase the rates of aid applicable, all Local Action Groups contracted to deliver the RDP will be notified immediately.