Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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757. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the Scheme to Support National Organisations; if he will provide bridging funding to the organisations involved while awaiting changes to be implemented; if he will meet with the organisations involved as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/15]

Áine Collins (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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770. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding funding. [14080/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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823. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Questions Nos 199 and 200 of 4 March 2014, the consultations held with the organisations in receipt of bridging funding in the Scheme to Support National Organisations; when he expects the process to be concluded and a decision made on the funding of these organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14856/15]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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824. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he has met the Disability Federation of Ireland in relation to extending the funding of its organisations under the Scheme to Support National Organisations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14857/15]

Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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828. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the position regarding the review of the Scheme to Support National Organisations; when it is expected that the review will be complete; if it will be published before the end of the period for which bridging funding was provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14931/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 757, 770, 823, 824 and 828 together.

The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) 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. A total of 55 applications were approved for funding for the two-year period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016. A number of previously funded organisations were not approved for funding on this occasion.

Pobal were asked to undertake the management of the scheme and, in that context, put in place a dedicated team to deal with any inquiries from applicants and to provide detailed feedback. Furthermore, an appeals process was put in place, on foot of which Pobal submitted a report, which is currently being considered.

On 18 July 2014, it was announced that bridging funding of €1.4million would be allocated for a twelve month period to a number of previously funded health, disability and other organisations that were not approved for funding under the new scheme, pending the carrying out of a review of the public funding of national organisations in the health and disability sector. This bridging funding in 2014/2015 will enable organisations to plan for their future, whether with or without State support, such as that provided under the SSNO. Details of the bridging funding provided are set out in the table.

The review process is well underway and is being advanced in consultation with the Department of Health. 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 Health Service Executive and Pobal are also participating in the review. All organisations in receipt of bridging funding have been contacted to make submissions as part of the review process. A number of meetings have also taken place with representative organisations, including the Disability Federation of Ireland. I intend to complete and publish the outcome of the review in the coming weeks.

Bridging Funding Provided 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015