Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The community services programme (CSP) is designed to address gaps in the delivery of key local services, to tackle disadvantage and to ensure that community facilities are utilised. It provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and cooperatives in communities around the country. Some 2,800 people are supported in employment by the programme across approximately 400 not-for-profit companies and co-operatives. Funding of €46m has been provided for the programme in 2015 which will maintain the current level of activity.

Service providers must operate community or social enterprises that are able to deliver tangible services and are capable of generating non-public revenues from their operations by way of charging fees, sales and/or fundraising. The programme is not intended to represent full funding for any operation. Rather, funding is provided on the basis of a contribution to the cost of full-time staffing positions to support the delivery of the service and can include management and non-management elements.

Given the restrictions on resources, the Department has been unable to make an open call for new proposals to the programme for a number of years. However, from time to time and as resources allow, the Department does process new applications received from organisations that have expressed an interest in and are considered eligible under the programme. Any not-for-profit company wishing to express an interest to be considered for the programme can send an expression of interest and its proposals to the Department by email to cspinfo@welfare.ie.