Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 22 together.

The community services programme, or CSP, was transferred to my Department on 1 January 2018. The programme supports 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model, with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. Some €46 million will be provided under the programme in 2018.

My current priority is to maintain the level of service for the organisations funded under the programme and to monitor its progress over the coming months. Thereafter, the Department will undertake a thorough review, commencing in early autumn 2018. The review will consider, among other things, how the programme fits with overall Government priorities, as well as my Department’s other community programmes and its policy objectives. It will also consider potential crossover with my Department’s forthcoming national policy on social enterprise.

I recently approved €815,000 for 12 social enterprises following a call for applications issued in 2017 under strand 3 of the programme. Additional calls for proposals will be considered upon completion of the review and in light of available funding. That said, my Department will continue to accept expressions of interest under the CSP in 2018 and I expect to approve funding for additional social enterprises during the year as funding becomes available as part of the ongoing management of the programme.

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