Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding the community services programme under An Pobal which is now under her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14348/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community services programme (CSP) co-funds the services delivered by around 425 community based not-for-profit enterprises across the State. Some €45.4 million has been allocated to the programme for 2012, which will support 2,800 people in full and part time employment. CSP funding is primarily intended to contribute to the wages costs of the service provider expressed as a fixed annual contribution towards the costs of employing full time equivalent workers, and in some cases, a contribution towards the cost of employing a manager.

A key requirement of the programme is that the service provider must generate a significant element of their turnover from traded activity or other non-public sources of income. The grant received from the programme must be matched over time with similar levels of traded income to fund further development of the organisation to enhance the services provided and to generate additional employment. The contribution levels vary from between 15% to 85% of turnover. In general, service providers are engaged under a three year contracting arrangement until 31 December 2013.

Access to the programme is by way of open call for proposals, the last in 2008, or by expression of interest from existing services providers where they consider the programme has a role in supporting or developing their operations. Due to resource constraints, there are limited opportunities for new proposals to be considered with funds being concentrated on supporting the employment potential of existing contract holders. I have no immediate proposals to alter the operation of the programme.