Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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68. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans for the community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30809/14]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Burton, on her appointment as Tánaiste. I also congratulate the Aire Stáit, Deputy Kevin Humphreys, on his appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for activation. The idea behind putting the activation programmes in the Department with the social welfare payments was to try to reduce the amount being paid to people to do nothing and to increase their opportunities to do something. The community services programme, which has not been expanded in recent years, is one of the best schemes because of the social, practical and community gains associated with it. I would like to Minister of State to tell us what he is going to do to use the potential of the community services programme for the good of society. I know it is a bit early for him to reflect on the matter, given that he has been in office for just an hour

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I thank the Deputy for the congratulations he has extended to myself and the Aire Stáit.

Regarding the community services programme, CSP, it is designed to address gaps in service delivery and disadvantage and ensure community facilities are utilised. It is a very valuable resource for important work done by not-for-profit companies and co-operatives in local communities throughout the country as well as supporting employment. The programme is funded by the Department with day-to-day management of contracts undertaken by Pobal. Around 420 not-for-profit companies and co-operatives shared annual funding of €46 million under the programme in 2013, with similar levels of funding being provided this year.

Contract holders operate community or social enterprises that are able to deliver tangible services capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way, in some cases, of charging fees, sales and-or fund-raising. The programme is not intended to represent full funding for any operation. Rather, funding is provided on the basis of a contribution to the cost of full-time staffing positions to support the delivery of the service and can include management and non-management elements. The contribution to a management position is €32,000 per annum and €19,033 to a non-management position.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The programme can also provide additional financial support where revenue-earning opportunities are limited, to support the development or transition of a service provider and-or to meet other short duration cashflow shortfalls.

The programme directly supported around 2,700 people in the delivery of services during 2013. In addition, the Department estimates that between 300 and 400 additional people are engaged in supported companies without further State support.

CSP is one of a number of schemes operated by my Department which contributes to the social economy in this country. As Minister, I will be making provision for this scheme in that context in the forthcoming budget.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for the graphic description of and information on a scheme I set up. Explaining to me how the scheme works is superfluous; I have a fair idea how the scheme works. The question was not about how the scheme works. If I had wanted to ask that question I would have asked it. I want to know the Minister's plans for the future and what she intends to do to expand the scheme. As she is aware, many well-built, large community facilities throughout the country are not open as many hours as we would wish. They have income-generating capacity but not to pay the full cost. We have many heritage sites, tourist facilities and so on. I mentioned the Dunbrodyin Wexford, an ideal case of a loss leader in the town funded through the community services programme or, for example, Athenry Castle in the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's constituency. It would not survive without the community service programme, which is of huge benefit to the wider economy. I could name endless projects throughout the country.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Has the Minister plans to expand the scheme to provide services the public needs, to make sure facilities on which a great deal of money was spent are used to their ultimate ability to give people the opportunity to work, and to give an opportunity for these facilities to generate more income?

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I will come back to the Deputy.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am aware of the Deputy's role in the scheme. As I said, it is a valuable scheme that is continuing to flourish. While I cannot comment on any budgetary matter regarding next year's budget, I value the scheme. Some 2,700 people are directly supported in the delivery of services during 2013, and the Department estimates that between 300 and 400 additional people are engaged in supported companies without further State support because of the other fund-raising or revenue-based activities they are able to generate. It contributes strongly to the social economy. I confirm that I will be providing for this scheme in that context in the forthcoming budget but I am not in a position at this point, as the Deputy will appreciate, to indicate the level of funding in the forthcoming budget.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It would be remiss of me not to mention that there was another huge plus with this scheme for people who would not normally access employment opportunities such as people with disabilities, Travellers and so on. It ensured people who might not otherwise access employment got real employment in a real job under the scheme. Will the Tánaiste agree that this is within her remit because taking into account that most of these projects employ extra people and pay extra wages out of their own resources, in other words, they generate their own income, and taking into account the savings in social welfare, the tax contributions, the PRSI contributions and so on, the scheme is self-financing?

Could she articulate that it is her intention in expanding activation, which is why her good Minister of State is beside her, that the community services programme will play a key role, as I would hope the rural social and Tús schemes would, in the expansion of activation opportunities, in particular for the long-term unemployed?

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I am glad the Deputy is so supportive of activation. As the Deputy is probably aware, at this point in time, the amount spent by the Department of Social Protection on activation is approximately €1 billion. It is a very significant increase at a time when budgets are under severe pressure. That €1 billion does not include family income supplement for families with children on low income. This year I estimate that we will spend a further €280 million on family income supplement. The matters which the Deputy raised are at the centre of activation.

I was glad to hear the Deputy refer to the Tús scheme. At any one time, there are approximately 7,700 people on the Tús scheme. I will ask the new Aire Stáit to look at all of these areas. I meet people all the time who have taken up a Tús scheme place and, by and large, they are anxious to contribute. Sometimes people talk about people being obliged to get involved in schemes. My experience is entirely contrary - I see the Deputy nodding - and there is a queue of people who are anxious to take up places, get active and participate in the community. Obviously, it is subject to overall budgetary requirements but I am with the Deputy on that.