Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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1481. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason a person (details supplied) has been refused funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21683/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.

The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund was 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. The criteria of the scheme stated that any grants awarded would be dependent on the need identified and organisations approved for funding were prioritised on that basis.

In this context it was considered that organisations that receive 80%, or more, of their funding from State sources are considered to have had a significant and stable source of income over the period under consideration, as the State has continued to provide that funding. On the basis of the information provided by the organisation in question, in their application to the Stability Fund, that organisation is in receipt of more than 80% of its funding from State sources and regretfully, has not been awarded funding under the COVID Stability Scheme.

Unsuccessful applicants were offered leave to appeal and I can confirm that the organisation in question is currently engaged in that process.

Over one thousand applications were received during the application period. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and to facilitate prompt drawdown, applications were assessed in batches and funding has been released in tranches. To date three tranches have been announced, supporting more than 480 organisations with funding of over €25 million. This funding is supporting the delivery of many critical frontline services in every part of the country. A full list of successful applicants is available on my Department’s website. Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks.