I propose to take Questions Nos. 245 and 246 together.
Funding of €46m is available under the Community Services Programme (CSP) in 2010 compared with €50.6m in 2009, an overall reduction of some 9%. When account is taken of administrative and related project costs, the reduction in the funding available to directly support CSP projects is generally of the order of 8%. Of the 450 or so organisations approved to deliver services under the CSP, an increase of 80 on the 01/01/2009 position, contracts in respect of some 320 projects expired at the end of 2009. In the current economic climate, I am very keen that the current levels of employment in these organisations is maintained. However, given the reduction in overall funding for the Programme, I can only do this by abolishing the non-wage grant that was previously payable.
In this context, the Deputy should note that I have provided these organisations with an opportunity to apply for an immediate review of their 2010 funding allocation where it has implications for the sustainability of the service being delivered or where the organisation has concerns of its financial viability. It should also be noted that the organisations will have their financial situation and operations more comprehensively examined in the context of being potentially offered three year contracts to the end of 2012. A key requirement of the CSP is that organisations contracted to deliver services undertake to generate a significant level of resources from non-public sources by way of trading, charging fees and fund raising etc. This is unlike many of the other programmes operated across the public sector.
My Department continues to simplify the information and administrative burden on organisations funded by the Programme. I believe that the information required is proportionate to the level and duration of funding offered to the groups involved. The contracts for the 130 or so organisations extending into 2010 are unaffected at this time by the reduction in the non-wage grant.