Written answers

Wednesday, 11 November 2020

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

Photo of Mark WardMark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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213. To ask the Minister for Health the sports organisations that have applied for the community mental health fund to date; the number that were successful; the number that were unsuccessful; the reason they were not successful in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35584/20]

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Mental Health Fund was a once-off fund of €3m, announced in Budget 2019. It was established to support community mental health initiatives across the country. Pobal is managing the fund in conjunction with the Healthy Ireland Fund and it is operated through local authorities and Túsla-led Children and Young People’s Services Committees. Programmes must be in line with local and national policies and objectives for the benefit of people in their communities.

€1 million of the Community Mental Health Fund is being disbursed as a small grant scheme. Local authorities are responsible for the small grant scheme at a local level and have autonomy for the design of the scheme and the process, including governance procedures for awarding grants. Unfortunately, Covid-19 has delayed the operation of the scheme in many authorities.

Pobal is reviewing progress and finance reports from local authorities and Children and Young People’s Services Committees. The review is expected to be finalised shortly and a report will then be submitted to the Department. The Department, therefore, is not yet in a position to provide information on the sports organisations that have applied for assistance from the Fund.

Community voluntary and sporting organisations should contact their local authority for more information on the progress of the small grant scheme in their area.

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