Written answers

Thursday, 16 December 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Departmental Programmes

5:00 am

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 271: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the intended reduction in funding for the community service programme in 2011; the areas which will be affected by the cut; his views on whether such a reduction in funding will correspond with a diminution in the quality of the service which is provided; if changes to the minimum wage will have an impact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47822/10]

Photo of Éamon Ó CuívÉamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The contracts with all 445 service providers funded by the Community Services Programme will expire at the end of December 2010. Contracts for up to three years from the 1st January 2011 are being offered to the service providers approved. These contracts are subject to satisfactory performance of the contract holders and the continued eligibility of services provided and the annual provision of resources for the Community Services Programme. It is expected that the contract renewal process will be completed very shortly. For the majority of contract holders there has been no reduction on the previous level of grant support.

Given the nature of the Programme, some variation in grant support, upwards and downwards will occur to reflect changes in the service provision or in the level of Programme supported staff. A number of contract holders will see a reduction in the level of overall value of the contract as the process of eliminating the non-wage element of the grant is completed. In such circumstances, the contract holder may seek to have the grant reduction reviewed where the elimination of this element of the grant causes short term financial hardship or where the longer term financial viability of the organisation is in doubt.

The Deputy should be aware that it is a requirement of the Community Services Programme that supported services generate a substantial proportion of their income from fees, charges and profits from traded services and that they should not be wholly reliant on the Programme for non-wage or operational funds.

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