Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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119. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide funding for an organisation (details supplied) under the support scheme for national organisations, given that it scored higher than the recommended level for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19923/16]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The organisation in question submitted an application to Pobal under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector. In total 148 applications were received and assessed by Pobal on behalf of my Department with 70 organisations to receive funding.

The quality of applications was very high, leading to a highly competitive assessment process. I approved 70 organisations for funding, at a total of €16.4 million, well in excess of the indicated amount initially advertised, in an effort to fund as many organisations as possible.

There was an extremely high demand for funding under the scheme, and it was clearly indicated that reaching a minimum threshold score of 65% was no guarantee of funding. Having regard to the funding available, 70 organisations were allocated funding, and the minimum score to be awarded funding was 76%. With the substantially increased allocation to the Scheme, there is no scope to award further funding to other organisations.

Pobal is available to engage with the organisation concerned if it requires further information on its application.