Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In order to achieve its business objectives my Department allocates significant resources across a number of sectors. These include local authorities, State agencies and other bodies including a range of organisations that might be considered non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) is a key programme which provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national community and voluntary organisations that demonstrate good governance and deliver services and supports that have a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. The Scheme is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department.

In addition my Department delivers a wide range of measures to support urban and rural communities, through a number of funding supports, including the Community Development Pilot Programme, Public Participation Networks (PPNs), supports for the development of philanthropy, Men's Sheds, volunteering supports, and funding to organisations to support individuals and groups from disadvantaged, marginalised and socially excluded communities.

However, there is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes an NGO and so my Department does not hold information on the NGO status, or otherwise, of bodies in receipt of funding. On that basis I am providing an indicative list of organisations commonly considered to be NGOs that my Department allocated funding to in the period in question. Details are provided in the attached table.

Further information on all schemes and programmes can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie