Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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386. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will examine the feasibility of extending the service Vantastic, which is currently part funded by her Department under the Community Service Programme managed by Pobal and in view of its success and popularity, if he will undertake to examine the possibility of expanding the service to include the Dublin North West Area. [2967/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Vantastic, like all community and not-for-profit contact holders with the community services programme (CSP), acts independently of the Department of Social Protection and Pobal in the determination of the services it offers. Those elements of service supported by the CSP are required to be in line with the business plan agreed with the Department and Pobal for the contracting period which is generally three years in duration. It is entirely a matter for the company to develop its services and examine the feasibility of expanding its service to include new areas of operation or coverage. A feature of the CSP is the requirement of the contract holder to generate a substantial level of its resources from the fees charged for services or other traded income. The value of the contract with Vantastic in 2012 was some €835,700 which includes a consolidated grant previously paid by the Department of Justice and Equality. I expect the same level of resources will be available to the company in 2013.