(1) A Minister of the Government within whose remit lies responsibility for a programme or type of project specified in an action plan adopted under section 43 may, from time to time, in accordance with this section, invite applications for disbursements from the account.

(2) Where a Minister of the Government referred to in subsection (1) proposes to invite applications for disbursements from the account, he or she shall, after consulting with the Minister and any other Minister of the Government as the first-mentioned Minister considers appropriate, publish or cause to be published -

(a) a notice inviting applications for disbursements from the account ('an invitation to apply'), and

(b) the criteria ('assessment criteria') to be applied in assessing applications made in response to the invitation to apply.

(3) An invitation to apply shall contain information relating to -

(a) the programmes or types of project in respect of which applications for disbursements are invited,

(b) the procedure for making an application for a disbursement,

(c) the criteria to be applied in determining the classes of persons who may make an application for a disbursement for the programmes or types of projects concerned, and

(d) the closing date for applications.