Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding to a number of voluntary / non-governmental organisations, who provide information and wider social research on social welfare services and social policy in Ireland. The current recipients of funding are:

• Community Law and Mediation (CLM)

• The Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed (INOU)

• Vincentian MESL Research Centre (MESL)

As part of its oversight process, my Department ensures that all organisations that receive such funding are compliant with the requirements and responsibilities as outlined by the Department of Public Expenditure, Delivery and Reform’s Circular 13/2014 - Management of and Accountability for Grants from Exchequer Funds, and other public financial requirements. All funds provided are based on signed Agreements, drafted in line with Circular 13/2014.

It is important to note that these organisations do not fall under the aegis of my Department, rather my Department provides grant funding to these organisations.

CLM

The CLM funding is used as core funding for staff salaries to support CLM’s provision of legal information and advice, as well as education and mediation services, in disadvantaged communities. CLM provides yearly audited financial statements and annual declarations that DSP funding has been used solely for the purpose for which it was awarded.

INOU

The INOU funding is used as core funding for staff salaries to support INOU's work with, and on behalf of, unemployed people, including development of the annual ‘Working for Work’ publication, and training and research on unemployed people’s experiences. INOU provides yearly audited financial statements and annual declarations that DSP funding has been used solely for the purpose for which it was awarded.

MESL

My Department provides funds to the Vincentian MESL Research Centre, wholly and exclusively in support of the MESL research workplan. The MESL research plan provides for the maintenance and dissemination of ‘Minimum Essential Standard of Living’ social policy research, which is an important evidence base that informs social policy development in Ireland.

Expenditure	2021 REV €000	2022 REV €000	2023 REV €000	2024 REV €000	2025 REV €000
Total Grants - Information and Welfare Rights	690	740	780	770	795
Made up as follows
CLM	350	350	350	350	350
INOU	256	256	256	256	256
MESL	80	130	170	170	180

Note: Figures provided are those outlined in the REV (Revised Estimates Volume) for the Public Service for each of the years 2021 to 2025 inclusive.