Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 October 2024
263. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cumulative funding provided in each Dublin local authority area since 2020 to date in 2024 under the Community Services Programme, in tabular form. [39424/24]
View answerMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model, with an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
In 2020, my Department developed an €8.95m CSP Support Fund to help organisations, which required additional assistance up to December 2021, as a result of the Covid-19 crisis.
Following an independent review of the programme, the CSP was restructured and a needs-based, differentiated funding allocation model was introduced for the CSP from January 2023, as an alternative to the previous flat rate payment model. This new model was designed to support those organisations most in need, providing a higher rate of funding to supported organisations that are identified as operating in areas of high disadvantage, employing individuals from the prescribed programme target groups and with evidence of limited earning potential.
In March 2023, funding of €1m was made available for a Call for Proposals in respect of specific CSP services, which resulted in 14 additional organisations being approved entry to the CSP on 13th December last, supporting thirteen manager positions and twenty three full time equivalent positions. There is a further number of organisations in the pipeline for support, however, this is subject to available resources.
An application window for funding for additional staff posts to existing CSP funded organisations was opened on September 1st with a closing date of 29th September 2023. The successful applications were announced on 18th June 2024, approving €1 million in funding to support a further seven manager positions and thirty five FTE positions in thirty two CSP supported organisations.
Following the announcement of an increase of €1.40 to the minimum wage as part of Budget 2024 and the potential impact it would have on CSP organisations, I responded accordingly. On 13th December last, I announced that the CSP contributions would increase for organisations at the higher level and at the medium level for both FTEs and for managers. The allocations below are reflective of funding provided, which reflects these measures.
