A further 17 areas have been brought into a scheme aimed at making community groups more effective. The Community Development Programme is funded by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
Its aim is to develop a network of projects to strengthen communities affected by high unemployment, poverty and disadvantage. There are 87 projects in the programme so far and their funding this year amounts to £8 million.
The work of the projects includes providing photocopying, typing, meeting rooms and other forms of practical assistance to community groups; campaigning and making recommendations on specific issues; training local people in leadership, planning and evaluation, and running adult education and personal development courses.
An example is the Family Re source Centre in St Michael's Estate, Inchicore, Dublin. Based in the estate, it began in 1985 because of concerns among local mothers at the growing social problems of children sniffing glue and the absence of community facilities.
Today it runs an after-school project for children, is involved in adult-education programmes, has an arts programme in conjunction with the Irish Museum of Modern Art in the nearby Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, and addresses is sues such as HIV, domestic violence and drug abuse.
A rural example is Community Connections, based at Blacklion, Co Cavan. The cross-Border community development organisation was set up in 1991 and operates in west Cavan, north Leitrim and west Fermanagh.
Its work includes rural transport and active age projects in an area which has suffered due to population loss, the Border and poor public transport provision.
Creating links between community groups and agencies North and South is a key part of its work.
Yesterday's announcement by the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, Mr Ahern, means that projects in another 17 areas of the State will be aided.
More areas are expected to be announced in the next few weeks.
Which projects in these areas will be funded must be worked out in consultation with the Department. The expansion of the scheme is included in Partnership 2000.