Community organisations in disadvantaged areas of Athlone are set to benefit from Dormant Accounts funding, Longford/Westmeath Deputy. Peter Burke, has confirmed.
Money in the Dormant Accounts Fund can be used to fund measures that address economic, social, or educational disadvantage and to support people with a disability. The 2020 Action Plan allocates funding of €45.5 million to 43 measures to be delivered across nine Government Departments.
“I am delighted that the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 will provide funding in excess of €45 million to help address disadvantage right across Ireland. The measures in the Action Plan address challenges such as social inclusion, homelessness, assisting migrants, support for carers and promoting inclusion in sports.
“The funding is having a huge impact. For example, it is providing support of €5.5 million for the Social Innovation Fund Ireland, €3 million for the Senior Alerts Scheme and €2 million to support Social Enterprise development in Ireland.
“It also provides €250,000 to contribute to necessary emergency safety works in community centres in disadvantaged urban areas. All of these measures are helping people in our communities here in Athlone and further afield, it is providing tangible social and economic benefits.
“The measures will provide much needed support for economically, educationally and socially disadvantaged groups and the disabled.
“The level of funding through Dormant Accounts has grown substantially in recent years, for example, the €45.5 million approved here compares to €28.5 million approved in the 2016 Action Plan,” Deputy Burke commented.
