AIB Better Ireland text and online voting begins.

Local communities across Ireland will have the final say in selecting the children's projects to receive funding from the AIB Better Ireland Programme 2009/2010. AIB's 182 main branches each have €10,000 to award to local projects and the community vote will decide how the funding will be divided up between the three short-listed projects at each branch.

Voting starts on 15th February and continues until 15th March 2010 and once again, Púca has been chosen by AIB to provide the SMS voting platform for the awards.

To vote by SMS, text ‘branch keyword’*  followed by a space, followed by A, B, or C to 51303 (Standard SMS operator costs apply).

*Voting instructions and details of the ‘branch keyword’ for each branch can be found on www.betterireland.ie

Brenda Moriarty, Head of Brand Management, AIB Bank said:

"This year the AIB Better Ireland Programme received almost 1,300 applications for funding from across the country. These applications have now been short listed to 546 children's projects. The public now have the opportunity to vote for their preferred children's project in each area online or by text. Our Programme is all about local participation, local voting and local benefit for children and we would encourage everyone to get behind their chosen local group."

The AIB Better Ireland Programme was broadened for 2009/2010 to include all vulnerable children’s groups such as those with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities, who are socially disadvantaged and children with terminal or chronic illness. Applications were received from a wide variety of groups including homework clubs, teen clubs, autistic services, community crèches, schools and colleges as well as drug and alcohol services for youth.