Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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899. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the deadline will be extended for the Covid-19 stability scheme for community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises beyond 20 May 2020 in view of the difficulties the Covid-19 restrictions have placed on the ability of organisations to gather certificates, quotations, information, contact persons and so on. [7654/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.

This scheme is funded by Dormant Accounts Funding and so the criteria align with its objective to support:

1. The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged; or

2. The educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or

3. Persons with a disability.

Mindful of the difficulties and issues raised by the sector, the Stability Scheme was established to urgently assist organisations in immediate risk of closure. The application process for the Stability Scheme was designed to avoid placing unnecessary or onerous administrative burdens on the applicant organisations and in this context there is no requirement for certificates or quotations to be uploaded. This was to ensure swift turnaround times to facilitate draw down of funds by eligible applicants so that they may continue to provide critical services to those most in need in our communities across Ireland.

The application deadline was extended by one day in order to facilitate those organisations that had technical issues or required clarification on their eligibility. The application process closed at 8pm on Thursday 21st May 2020. The Scheme has received over 1,000 applications and the assessment and approval process is currently underway. Organisations approved for funding from the Stability Fund will be informed in the coming weeks.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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900. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of community groups that qualified under the terms of the Covid-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprises; the nature of the organisations which met the objectives; the way in which their eligibility was determined; if he will broaden the criteria to allow more community groups apply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7814/20]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to those most in need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.

This scheme is funded by Dormant Accounts Funding and so the criteria align with its objective to support:

1. The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged; or

2. The educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or

3. Persons with a disability.

Mindful of the difficulties and issues raised by the sector, the Stability Scheme was established to urgently assist organisations at immediate risk of closure. The application process for the Stability Scheme was designed to avoid placing unnecessary or onerous administrative burdens on the applicant organisations. This was to ensure swift turnaround times to facilitate draw down of funds by eligible applicants so that they may continue to provide critical services to those most in need in our communities across Ireland.

The application deadline was extended by one day in order to facilitate those organisations that had technical issues or required clarification on their eligibility. The application process closed at 8pm on Thursday 21st May 2020. The Fund has received over 1,000 applications and the assessment and approval process is currently underway.

The most common sectors identified in applications are Social services and supports to disadvantaged individuals and communities; Health and Well-being Services and Services for Older Persons. Applications are now being assessed to fully determine eligibility. Organisations approved for funding from the Stability Fund will be informed in the coming weeks.

The eligibility criteria for the Fund was set out clearly on the website of Pobal, which is administering the Scheme on my Department's behalf. As applications for the scheme are now closed, the question of broadening the criteria does not arise.