Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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121. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the criteria used and the basis of the scoring system employed in the allocation of funding in the scheme to support national organisations 2014-2016; the organisations funded and those applicant organisations not funded; the reasons for the decision and scoring awarded in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30482/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. A new round of funding was advertised for applications earlier this year. I asked Pobal to undertake an assessment of the applications received, given that organisation's significant experience and expertise of both the design of assessment criteria and completion of assessment functions.

As part of the application procedure, a guidance document was made available to all applicants and published on Pobal’s website. This document outlined the application and assessment procedures, and the criteria used to determine eligibility for the scheme. Each application that met the basic eligibility criteria was appraised by Pobal to ensure the viability of the proposal, its strengths in contributing to the overall aim of the Scheme and its capacity to deliver in accordance with the selection criteria.

The appraisal of applications was based on information provided in the Application Form and any supporting material submitted. Each application was appraised against a number of criteria, which were weighted as follows:

- Capacity of the Organisation (20%)

- Strategic Fit (25%)

- Demonstration of Need (20%)

- Achievability of the Proposal (15%)

- Value for Money (20%)

Pobal has put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. There is also an appeals process and Pobal has provided applicants with detailed information in that regard. As this appeals process is now live, it would not be appropriate for me to make any further comment on the funding process or on the application of any particular organisation.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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122. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he, his Department or Pobal discussed with the Department of Health or the Health Service Executive the allocation of funding to health-related organisations under the scheme to support national organisations 2014-2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30483/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. A new round of funding was advertised for applications earlier this year. I asked Pobal to undertake an assessment of the applications received, given that organisation's significant experience and expertise of both the design of assessment criteria and completion of assessment functions. I was anxious to make funding available to as many organisations as possible within the prevailing resource constraints and I approved 55 applications for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016.

A large number of organisations operating in health-related areas applied for funding under the scheme and a number are included a mong the 55 organisations being grant-aided under the scheme. In the context of reviewing the scheme for the next round of multi-annual funding, I met with my colleague the Minister for Health to initiate a policy discussion on whether or not from a public policy point of view, it would be more efficient that organisations receive funding only from the Department with lead responsibility for policy in their area, rather than seek funding across a number of different Departments. This issue will considered further with relevant Departments in good time before the ending of the current scheme at end June 2016.