Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 April 2019
78. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a consultation report has been published regarding the community services programme; if so, the main findings of the report; the number of programmes supported by this scheme; the number of persons supported in employment by this scheme; his plans for the continuation of the programme beyond 2019 in its present form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15245/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Services Programme, or CSP, supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. Funding is provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions.
More than €46 million is available under the programme in 2019. Between part-time and full-time positions, some 3,000 people are supported through the CSP, comprising 1,660 FTEs and 306 managers.
My Department recently commenced a review of the CSP. A review was considered opportune as the programme had not been formally reviewed since 2006, during which time the external environment had changed significantly.
The review will consider how the programme fits with overall Government priorities, as well as with my Department’s other community programmes and policy objectives, and will help inform decisions on the future shape and structure of the programme.
The review is being carried out by an independent review body. It will take six months to complete, with a final report expected in early Autumn 2019. I am committed to continuing the CSP from 2020; however, it would be inappropriate to comment on the future shape of the programme pending completion of the review.
