SOME €3.3 million in one-off grants was shared among
voluntary organisations including three in Donegal
last year under the Department of Health's National
Lottery Discretionary Fund, latest figures show.
The monies were given to 140 organisations providing
a range of health-related benefits in their local
communities. While the same amount was allocated
under the scheme last year, the overall grants are
down about 700,000 euro on three years ago.
The three beneficiaries in Donegal were Malin Head
Community Centre (€3,000); Downstrands Family
Resource Centre (€11,040) and Aislainn Rann na
Feirste (€8,382).
The biggest beneficiary nationally in 2012 was
mental health support group, Shine, which received
185,000 euro. The next highest award was 150,000
euro which was granted to three organisations, the
Irish Kidney Association; The West of Ireland
Alzheimer Foundation in Ballindine, Co Mayo and
Build4Life Cystic Fibrosis in Castleisland, Co
Kerry. There were five allocations worth 100,000
euro each to organisations including the Brothers of
Charity in Co Clare; The Cystic Fibrosis Association
of Ireland and the Mater Foundation. Several
allocations were made in the 30,000 euro - 70,000
euro bracket with many smaller grants ranging from
350 euro to 20,000 euro.
According to the department, applications "come
primarily from community groups and voluntary
organisations with an involvement in the provision
of health services to specific client groups".
Groups providing mini-buses for patients, holidays
for the elderly and equipment for hospitals are also
covered.
A total of 3,286,000 euro was disbursed in 2011 and
2012 to 126 groups and 140 groups respectively. The
scheme has been reduced however from 2009 and 2010
levels, when almost 4m euro and 3.8m euro was
allocated to 118 and 183 groups respectively. |
