Colm Keaveney (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the review of the scheme to support national organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34325/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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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.

Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014 , were subject to an appraisal process. My predecessor was anxious to make funding available to as many organisations as possible within the prevailing resource constraints and 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 and a number are included among the 55 organisations being grant- aided under the scheme. In the context of reviewing the scheme for the next round of multi-annual funding, my predecessor met with the then 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.

While it was known that the existing scheme was ending on 30 June 2014 and applications were sought for the new scheme with no guarantee of continued funding, it is clear that organisations had become increasingly dependent on this funding. Against that background, I announced , on 18 July 2014, the allocation of bridging funding of €1.4 m to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations for a twelve month period, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. My Department has now commenced a process of engagement with the Department of Health in order to advance the review, which is being undertaken in agreement with my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Health with Special Responsibility for Primary Care, Mental Health and Disability . The review is designed to rationalise the funding of these organisations to ensure efficiency in the use of public money and avoidance of duplication, while providing appropriate support to organisations working in the sector.

The bridging funding in 2014/2015 is a once-off transitional arrangement and will enable organisations to plan for their future whether with or without State support such as that provided under the Scheme to Support National Organisations.