Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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885. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government why an application (details supplied) under the dormant accounts scheme was refused; when will the scheme be re-opened; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1485/16]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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Under the current Dormant Accounts Plan, Pobal are administering the Social Enterprise Measure on behalf of my Department.

The aim of the Social Enterprise Measure is to increase the impact of social enterprises by enhancing their capacity to deliver services and generate traded income through the provision of small capital grants. Funding is being provided to support the development of social enterprises that have the capacity to deliver local, sustainable jobs and which contribute to community gain in disadvantaged areas/for economically and socially disadvantages persons. 

This was a very competitive measure and each application was assessed by Pobal against the criteria set out in the published guidelines and was scored accordingly. Unfortunately on this occasion the organisation referred to by the Deputy in the details supplied was not successful as it did not achieve a sufficiently high score to enable it to be considered for funding on this occasion.

A Dormant Accounts Action Plan for 2016 is currently under consideration. I anticipate that this plan will be completed by early February.