Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 July 2021
619. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to open up a new module under the community services programme for applications from rural areas of low employment and falling population to try assist the redevelopment of these areas particularly on the tourist front; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36189/21]
View answer620. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to open up a new module under the community services programme for applications from rural areas of high unemployment, drugs misuse and deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36190/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 619 and 620 together.
The Community Services Programme (CSP), which is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, currently supports more than 420 community organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model. One of the objectives of the CSP is to alleviate disadvantage and address local social, economic and environmental needs which are not being met through public or private funding or other resources.
The CSP, through its three categories or strands, currently supports organisations who, through a social enterprise model, operate community halls and facilities, provide services to local, regional and national geographical communities or communities of interest, especially to disadvantaged communities, or provide employment for specific disadvantaged groups namely Travellers, people with disabilities, stabilised and recovering drug mis-users and people with convictions who are in contact with the probation service, and other groups as determined by the programme.
The CSP provides a co-funding contribution of €19,033 towards the cost of each agreed full time equivalent (FTE) position and €32,000 towards the cost of each manager, where warranted. The CSP contribution does not meet the full salary cost of the supported positions, organisations are expected to provide additional funds from their own resources to meet the full cost of employment. Some 326 Managers and 1700 FTEs are currently being supported under CSP.
In 2020, Indecon International Economic Consultants, on behalf of my Department, carried out an independent review of the CSP. The Indecon report was published on 30th September last, following which my Department and Pobal commenced work on the restructuring of the programme in line with the Indecon recommendations.
Work on the revision of the programme is ongoing and while the final format of the revised programme hasn’t been fully determined as yet, it is expected that it will operate on the basis of targeted calls for applications to address particular needs or issues by area or by sector, depending on the identified need.
