Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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459. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to a petition (details supplied) in respect of funding; his plans to provide assistance to the named group; and if he can outline the rationale for not providing funding. [49783/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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In 2023, the LGBTI+ Community Services Fund was oversubscribed and as a result the assessment process was very competitive. For this reason, unfortunately, my Department was only in a position to provide funding to 25 out of a total of 101 applicants.

In recognition of the highly competitive funding call, all applications received were assessed and scored in strict adherence with the assessment criteria set out in the published funding call guidelines. Applications were assessed by two separate assessors within the Department. For applications where there was a pertinent difference of opinion between the scores given by those two assessors, an external reviewer was asked to review the application to provide a final score.

Thirty three percent of Scheme A (€25,000 to €100,000) applicants were successful. Due to oversubscription of the fund, and our commitment to fund as many worthwhile projects as possible, successful Scheme A applicants were only awarded only 70% of the amount sought in their original application.

Nineteen percent of Scheme B applicants were successful. Successful Scheme B projects (€5,000 to €10,000) were awarded the full amount applied for as it is likely the projects would not be feasible if funding was reduced.

Should additional funding become available, the highest scoring unsuccessful organisation will be contacted.

Any organisation looking for feedback or who wishes to appeal the assessment team’s decision should contact lgbti@equality.gov.ie.

The 2024 LGBTI+ Community Services Fund is due to be launched in June 2024.