The Government is to formally advertise for philanthropic donations from wealthy individuals and community groups to co-fund flagship projects up to a value of €10 million.
In the first move of its kind to test the levels of philanthropy among newly wealthy Irish people, the Government will advertise seeking 50 per cent or €5 million of funding for projects to target economic and social disadvantage, educational disadvantage and disability. The remaining €5 million will come from dormant accounts funding.
Minister of State for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Noel Ahern said the advertising would begin within weeks.
He was speaking at a press conference to announce the allocation of €36 million from dormant accounts funding for educational disadvantage and disability, €5 million of which will be used for projects which are matched euro for euro by philanthropic donations. Mr Ahern said that, historically, Irish people were very charitable in giving to charities and disasters, but on the corporate side "we were very, very poor".
"Some people have done very well and there is a belief that a lot of people who have made money wish to get involved and co-operate with the State," he said.
Minister for Health Mary Harney said: "Public policy can't be governed by somebody deciding to make a contribution. I think that would be wrong and very strongly opposed by the public in general."
Questioned about funding offered by solicitor Noel Smyth for the building of a new children's hospital, Ms Harney insisted that Mr Smyth's offer of funding "has not been refused" and his contribution would be very much welcomed.
Ms Harney said she had not spoken to Mr Smyth about the issue for some time but he had made it clear in recent weeks to her representatives that the offer to build a children's hospital "wasn't site specific". The offer had originally been to construct a hospital on a site near Newlands Cross in southwest Dublin, but the site chosen for the new hospital is at the Mater Hospital. Major co-funding projects had worked where they did not conflict with public policy, she said.
Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Eamon Ó Cuív believed that much philanthropic funding had come from communities and groups, who were collecting and contributing in their communities and dealing with social disadvantage. "There is a pool of money out there from people who want to contribute," he said.
Ministers also rejected allegations that the dormant accounts funds, collected from unclaimed monies in financial institutions, were being used as a "slush fund" in advance of next year's general election.
