Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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224. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position in relation to an application for aid through the stability fund by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25704/20]

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 provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprises. The Fund was intended to provide 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.

My Department received 1,060 applications during the application periods. 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 of successful applications have been announced, allocating funding of over €25m to 489 organisations. This funding is now supporting the delivery of many critical front line services in every part of the country. A full list of successful applicants is available at the link below.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/3957e-covid-19-stability-fund-successful-applicants/.

Though the fund is closed to new applications, additional checks are continuing on a number of applications and a further announcement in respect of successful applicants will be made shortly.

I can confirm an application in respect of the organisation in question is under consideration and a final decision is expected shortly.