Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 November 2021
688. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when her Department expects to conclude work on restructuring the Community Services Programme in line with the recommendations from the 2020 report carried out for her Department by a company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55676/21]
View answer689. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the expression of interest process for the Community Services Programme is expected to reopen. [55677/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 688 and 689 together.
My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 420 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model.
In 2020, an independent review of the Community Services Programme was undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants, on behalf of my Department. The final report was published on 30 September 2020 and was accompanied by a High Level Action Plan outlining the timeline for the phased implementation for the restructuring of the programme.
My Department and Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of my Department, are currently working on the restructuring of the programme in conjunction with a Consultative Group, whose membership is secured from key sectoral stakeholders including CSP supported organisations, national organisations, community representatives and social enterprise representatives.
It was initially anticipated that the work on the restructuring of the programme would have completed by the end of 2021/early 2022. However, due to the Covid 19 pandemic, my Department was required to refocus its priorities in order to develop a number of support schemes for community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises, including the CSP Support Fund and the Stability Fund, to help organisations who required additional assistance during the crisis period.
However, work is continuing on the restructuring of the new programme since the roll out of these schemes, with the next meeting of the Consultative Group scheduled for 23rd November. In addition, CSP supported organisations are being granted an extension up to 31 December 2022, to allow for the restructuring of the programme to be completed during next year.
Pending the transition to the new restructured programme, the scheme is closed to new applications through the expression of interest process. However, there are a number of organisations with plans currently under consideration, and if approved, they will be supported under the programme from January to April 2022 onwards. In addition, it is anticipated that the Programme will open calls to address identified gaps in service delivery in 2022.
