Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

495. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will cease cutting funding to all 11 neurological organisations; if he will to restore it immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31314/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

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 on this process. 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.