Written answers

Tuesday, 29 September 2020

Department of Rural and Community Development

Rural Development Programme

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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1040. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will address a matter regarding the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26540/20]

Photo of Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind.  Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.

Pobal administers the scheme on behalf of my Department. In the first instance contact should be made with the local community-based organisation. Currently there are 42 approved organisations operating the scheme in County Limerick, with approximately 12 of these covering all or parts of Limerick city. Details of these organisations can be found at , or by telephone at 01 5117222. Officials in my Department have passed on the contact details provided to Pobal to assist with the query in question.

Photo of Brendan GriffinBrendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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1041. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a decision has been made on an application for emergency funding by an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26776/20]

Photo of Joe O'BrienJoe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department currently supports over 400 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP).  The organisation in question is supported under the CSP and has been allocated €57,099 in resect of three full time equivalent positions for 2020. In addition, the 2020 CSP Support Fund, which provided additional funding to many CSP supported organisations to assist them to retain their CSP supported employees on their payroll during this crisis period has also provided additional funding of €2,619 to the organisation. 

Pobal, who manages the programme on behalf of the Department, is currently reviewing the financial position of all CSP supported organisations, as the ability to generate income, for many of them, has been greatly hampered by the Covid-19 crisis.  In this regard, a Financial Survey issued to all CSP supported organisations and a detailed analysis of the data collected is underway and will be completed in the coming weeks.  Additional supports to CSP supported organisations will be considered in light of the survey and available resources. 

I note from the information provided that the organisation in question has a number of minor capital repairs or upgrades that are required to be undertaken.  My Department announced The Community Enhancement Programme in June, with funding of €2m provided towards small capital grants to community organisations.  Separately, under the July stimulus package my Department launched a €5m additional fund under the Community Enhancement Programme, for repairs or upgrades to community centres and community buildings.  Details are available on the following link: .

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