COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

Monday, October 10, 2011

QUESTION NO. 4

QUESTION: Councillor M. Duff

To ask will the Manager make a report to this Council indicating if it is his intention to continue granting Management Grants to Community Centres accross the County, in recognition of the valuable service that these Centres afford to our Communities. Will he also indicate if Sports organisations, such as Olympic Handball, can avail of small grants for equipment replacement or travel assistance?

REPLY: There are a range of grants available under the Community Grants Scheme (see Link setting out range, criteria and conditions) and these include Management Grants and Employment Grants for New or Existing Community Centres. The Council has no plans to terminate these particular grants, and is acutely aware of the importance of them to  existing and new Community Centres. However, facing into the annual Budget process, every aspect of the Council's finances is under scrutiny.

The Grants booklet specifies that in the case of these particular categories of grant that "applications will be accepted on an annual basis and the number of grants available will be limited".

The Council is also the nominated channel of  funding in respect of grant support for staff  management positions in certain Community Centres.  These grants are provided by Central Government Departments and continued  payment of these grants is subject to the necessary funding being provided in their annual budgets.

Sports organisations such as Olympic Handball, can also apply for grant aid under different headings which they have already availed of, and again are outlined in the Grants Booklet. These are also subject to availability of funds.