Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The problem with this is that, because CSP schemes must find funds at short notice to meet the additional cost imposed by the increase in the minimum wage, it threatens the viability of many such programmes. Previously, the contribution to CSP schemes was reduced by €1 per hour when the minimum wage was cut, but the Minister of State and his Department suggest that the grant is only a contribution to payroll costs and is not intended to meet the costs itself.

The Minister of State also mentioned that CSP schemes should not constantly focus on the minimum wage. The proof in the pudding is that only 40% of their employees are on the minimum wage, which means that they already understand and have gone beyond this.

The Minister of State might not be aware that there are 53 payroll weeks in 2016, not 52. Therefore, there is an extra cost to be met in any case that would not normally be incurred.

See this speech in context