David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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15. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Question No. 71 of 14 January 2015, the benefits for participants and communities of the community services programme funded by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4971/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Funding of over €45m is being provided for the Community Services Programme (CSP) in 2015. This will support some 400 contracts that are in place with service providers nationally. The CSP is designed to address locally identified gaps in the provision of services to communities and to utilise the potential of community assets and resources that are already in place to support of delivery of services and to improve community well-being. Funding is provided to support the employment of staff to deliver the service. Unlike a number of other schemes and initiatives operated by the Department, there is no direct relationship with the employees of the contractors or service providers. Contractors must also demonstrate an ability to generate and maintain income from the services delivered. The objective of the Programme is to promote social and economic development through harnessing voluntary commitment and using the potential of community assets. The benefits derive from services that are considered necessary and which would not otherwise be provided and which support the provision of real and positive employment opportunities.

Some 2,800 people are directly supported in employment through the CSP across the various not-for-profit organisations nationally, with an estimated 300-500 additional people supported indirectly from other activities of contractors funded from their own resources and income generation.