Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

297. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will ensure that there will not be any cuts in funding in respect of an organisation (details supplied) that they need from the Government for this year’s budget. [28404/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department currently provides direct funding to the Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) under two programme areas - the Community and Voluntary Pillar and the Local and Community Development Programme. The level of funding to be provided to the organisation for 2014 under both programmes is being maintained at 2013 levels.

I can also confirm that the Department’s 2014 National Homelessness budget, under which SVP receive indirect funding, is also being maintained at the same level as 2013. The Department does not fund any homelessness service directly but provides funding to housing authorities towards the operational costs of homeless accommodation and related services under Section 10 of the Housing Act 1988. Under funding arrangements introduced in 2011, responsibility for the rigorous assessment, appraisal and decision making in relation to proposals for funding of particular homeless services within the current budgetary allocation rests with the homelessness statutory management group of the respective region.

Future funding will be decided as part of the annual Estimates process.