Written answers

Tuesday, 11 December 2018

Department of Rural and Community Development

Dormant Accounts Fund Management

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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48. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and details of projects in Galway city and county that benefitted from the €2 million dormant accounts funding allocation in 2017 facilitating access to services and amenities in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51858/18]

Photo of Seán CanneySeán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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The Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2017, published in July 2017 approved funding for a measure entitled access to services and amenities in rural Ireland.

At that time, it was envisaged that this measure would support older people and people with disabilities in accessing services, amenities and activities within the community.

It was also envisaged that the measure would support community based organisations which provide outreach services and support to people with limited mobility.

This measure did not progress as planned; however, to address this need subsequently a new CLAR measure was launched in August 2018. The CLAR measure has provided €1.4 million in funding for organisations that provide:

- Wheelchair accessible transport to assist those attending medical appointments or respite services.

- Transport to and from designated cancer treatment hospitals and centres under the National Cancer Care Programme.

This CLAR measure has provided funding for 2 groups based in Galway. FORUM Connemara received almost €54,000 in funding for a 15 seater wheelchair accessible vehicle and Cancer Care West received €100,000 in funding for a 25 seater accessible bus.

Addressing this need through the CLAR measure has allowed me to use the voted Dormant Accounts moneys within the Department to address emerging needs elsewhere. In particular it has facilitated increased funding for the Senior Alerts programme so that demand can be meet right across the country.

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