A group of Waterford nuns are being “forever knocked” by the local authority when it comes to community grant applications, a council meeting has heard.
The issue was raised by Fianna Fáil councillor Eamon Quinlan at the September plenary meeting of Waterford City and County Council.
Cllr Quinlan said: “My question is in relation to the council’s policy around the eligibility of religious organisations to access community grant funding from Waterford City and County Council.
“I was recently approached by a group of Catholic nuns who informed me that they are forever knocked when it comes to applying for council grants.”
He outlined the reasons given by the council as to why the nuns can’t access funding.
“When I queried the most recent grant that they applied for with the council’s community department, I was advised that because the nuns are engaged in the provision of nursing and caring facilities to people across Waterford city and county, even though they’re registered as a charity, they’re deemed to not be a community group.”
“This is based on the fact that they take money from their members, so they’re deemed as commercial or semi-commercial and the fact that they restrict access to the facility at night times etc., they’re not seen as being for the benefit of the wider community.”
Cllr Quinlan continued by highlighting the work of the nuns and other religious groups locally.
“I and other councillors have been in the premises of numerous religious based organisations across the city and county.
“Some of are the Christian faith, some of are the non-Christian faith. They provide services to their members and they do good things across the community.
“Most of them do collect some money from their members just like these nuns do and most do obviously restrict access to their premises at night. It’s not just a free for all.”
He went on to say that he has never heard of such applications being turned down and called for the matter to be investigated.
“These groups have never told me that they have trouble in accessing community grant funding from Waterford City and County Council. I would like this looked into.
“In Irish law, we actually have a strong tradition of being quite liberal for religious groups that do good works in the community and I would like to see that reflected in Waterford City and County Council’s policy.
“That we are consistent with all faiths that are doing good works across Waterford city and county when it comes to the application of grants.”
In response to Cllr Quinlan, Director of Services Seamus De Faoite said that council management would look into the matter.