Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 February 2014
122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the decision of her Department to close the CSP north Kerry older person's home maintenance service based in the north and east Kerry development area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9758/14]
View answerThe community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in service delivery and disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. The programme is funded by the Department with day-to-day management of contracts undertaken by Pobal. Some 425 not-for-profit companies and co-operatives shared annual funding of €46m from the programme in 2013. Contract holders must deliver tangible services that are capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way of charging fees, sales and/or fundraising and other public funds. The programme is not intended to represent full-funding for any operation.
Each contract holder is responsible for their own budgets, income, financial and other liabilities. Contracts are generally offered on a three-year cycle based on a business plan or similar submitted by the company. Continued funding is subject to satisfactory compliance with the programme’s operational requirements, financial position of the company, continued eligibility of the company and service, progress on delivery of the stated objectives in the business plan, and an assessment of a business plan for the following three year contact cycle. A regular review process is undertaken to ensure compliance with contract obligations, audit issues, continuing capacity of the organisation to manage public funds, the need for and quality of service delivery, sustainability, and value for money.
The company is involved in the provision of a range of services in North Kerry. This particular CSP contract relates to the provision by the company of a low cost maintenance and minor repair service targeted specifically at the older community of North Kerry. The operations were reviewed as part of a re-contracting process for the period 2014-16. The process involves the submission of business plans by the company and a review of performance by Pobal before recommendations are made to the Department for decision. The company had been approved for a funding contribution to employ a full time manager post and four and a half full-time equivalent posts (FTE) plus an operational grant of €5,000 up to end of 2013. The total value was €122,649 pa. The business plan submitted by the company to secure a contract for 2014 to 2016 was considered to be generally weak and raised concerns about the activity delivered for the level of funds granted and the value being obtained. There are also longer-term concerns about the sustainability of the services and its financial structure. The level of output delivered by the company was considered low when compared with similar services.
In the circumstances, the Department considered that the expenditure of public funds could no longer be justified. The company has been advised of the outcome of the review and has been offered an opportunity to seek a review of the decision.
