Minister Carey announces Funding Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector

January 13 2011, 03:02pm

Mr. Pat Carey, T.D. Minister of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, announced on 16th December 2010 that applications are being invited under a new round of funding for the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector.

The new round will replace the previous round which ran from 2007 to 2010. Under interim arrangements funding will continue under the old scheme until the end of March 2011 at the latest.

Applications are being invited from community and voluntary organisations that operate at a national level with evidence of a nationwide membership. All organisations applying under the scheme or their constituent bodies must be engaged in service delivery.

This scheme will provide multi-annual funding to such national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Priority will be given under this scheme to supporting national organisations which provide coalface services to disadvantaged target groups.

Announcing the funding, Minister Carey said:

“This major funding scheme is a significant investment by this Government in the Community and Voluntary sector. It is focussed on organisations that operate at a national level and will greatly assist them in the provision of a wide range of important services, in particular to disadvantaged target groups.

“This funding follows on from the previous round which ran for the last 3 years and which provided almost €15m of funding to 64 National Organisations. This scheme recognises that community and voluntary activity forms the very core of a vibrant and inclusive society.

“This type of funding will cover core costs and will be provided on a multi-annual basis. It gives the funded groups a real basis for their planning of service delivery. I also see this funding as contributing to the entire community sector as many of the national groups that we will support will, in turn, provide vital services to regional and local organisations.”

Organisations must contact the Department directly for the application form and full guidelines - email: whitepaper@pobail.ie

Deadline for applications is 24 January, 2011.

Website: http://www.pobail.ie/en/PressReleases/htmltext,10688,en.html