Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 222: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding the community services programme; if a new review date has been set for this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31696/08]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number of applications received by his Department to date in 2008, on a county basis under the community projects with details for each heading of community halls and facilities, community services and community enterprise; when allocations will be made to each category of applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31697/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports a range of community businesses and social enterprises to deliver local services and employment opportunities for particularly disadvantaged groups across the State. At present, some 350 community-led organisations are being supported under the Programme to deliver a broad range of services and provide employment opportunities to over 1,660 people. The level of funding allocated to these projects to date in 2008 is of the order of €45m.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department took over responsibility for the operation of the CSP in 2006 when some 260 projects previously funded under FÁS's Social Economy Programme were transferred to the CSP. I am currently considering how this programme could be streamlined and made more effective.

The most recent call for proposals for the CSP closed at the end of June 2008. In total, 254 applications were received and they are currently being processed. Some 100 applications were received under the Community Halls and Facilities Strand, with 95 and 59 applications received under the Services and Enterprise Strands respectively.

I expect recommendations regarding funding under the various strands to be made to me over the coming period. The number of applications received under the recent call for each county is set out in the following table.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the projects on a county basis that were allocated funding under the community services programme with details of the amount of funding allocated for each application category for the year 2006 and the year 2007. [31698/08]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports a range of community businesses and social enterprises to deliver local services and employment opportunities for particularly disadvantaged groups across the State. My Department took over responsibility for the operation of the CSP in 2006 when some 260 projects previously funded under FÁS's Social Economy Programme (SEP) were transferred to the Programme.

The amount of funds paid to each projects in 2006 and 2007 is set out in the following table. With respect to categorisation, the table shows projects that transferred from FÁS and those funded under the 2006 call for proposals under the CSP.

Given the broad range of services provided under the former SEP, the process of allocating groups to one of the current three strands under the Programme is still ongoing.