Monday, November 22, 2010

Three Clare Community Projects Receive Funds

Minister for Defence and Clare T.D., Mr. Tony Killeen has confirmed that the Government has approved a funding offer for three community projects in County Clare.

Minister for Social Protection, Mr. Eamon O Cuiv this week approved the offer of three years funding (2011-2013) under the Community Services Programme, for East Clare Community Co-op Society (€38,066), Clare Accessible Transport Limited (€108,132) and Lisdoonvarna Failte Ltd (€38,066).

According to Minister Killeen: “The Community Services Programme aims to support local community activity, to address disadvantage and provide local employment opportunities for certain groups of people”.

He added: “The Programme currently provides funding to a number of community services and businesses in Clare, including community childcare services, services for older people and those with disabilities and environmental projects. For example, €170,000 was allocated last month for the operation of the Michael Cusack Centre in Carron. Elsewhere, Obair Environment Services Ltd. (€222,330) and Obair Newmarket-on-Fergus Ltd. (€38,066) also received funding two weeks ago.”

“In order to qualify for funding under the Community Service Programme, organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis. They must also recruit unemployed people to work in the project”, the Minister concluded.

At present, the Community Services Programme supports 2,700 people in employment, delivers a wide range of essential services and generates significant additional funds to the support and development of service providers across the country.

The Programme is designed to work in partnership with local service providers where gaps are identified in the services or there is insufficient demand for services that would normally be provided by the public and/or private sectors.  Each supported organisation must also generate additional income by way of service fees, trading and/or fundraising.