Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 308: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when the contract between Pobal and his Department regarding the community service project schemes expires; if there is a plan to continue these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7156/09]

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 309: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when he will announce the community service project budget for 2010; if it is expected that some projects will be discontinued; if new projects will be accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7157/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 308 and 309 together.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports a range of community business and social enterprises to deliver a diverse range of local services and employment opportunities. It has a particular focus on employing people who are currently without work or have limited employment opportunities, and delivering services through community and voluntary organisations where gaps exist. My Department undertakes policy development and project approval for the Programme while Pobal at present administers the CSP on a day-to-day basis, under a service level agreement.

Currently, the Programme is working with over 350 projects which are providing good quality employment to over 2,100 people. By the end of this year, I expect the number of projects approved under the Programme to rise to around 445 and these will provide an estimated 2,600 people with employment opportunities. The provision in my Department's Vote for the CSP in 2009 is €50.85m. Each year, a number of projects leave the Programme for a variety of reasons and are replaced by projects which are successful under the annual call for proposals. I would expect that this practice will continue this year. Funding for the Programme for 2010 and future years will fall for consideration in the context of the annual Estimates process for my Department.