David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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49. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 71 of 14 January 2015 and 15 of 5 February 2015, the number of new applications for the community services programme which have been processed each year since 2008, when the last new open calls for proposals occurred; the number of new participants who have been added to the scheme as a result; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17342/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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. Approximately 400 not-for-profit companies and co-operatives are being supported under the programme with some 2,800 workers being supported in these organisations. Funding of €46m has been provided for the programme in 2015 which will maintain the current level of activity but does not allow the Department to make an open call for new applications.

The last call for proposals was made in 2008 under each of the three strands of the programme. Only proposals under Strand 1 – Community Facilities - were considered due to reductions in the level of funding made available from 2009 and 60 were recommended for funding. Proposals received under the other strands were not processed due to funding constraints. Additionally, two contracts were concluded with Vocational Education Committees in Dublin for the community use of further education centres and four contracts transferred from the Community Employment programme.

Based on expressions of interest received and considered eligible, the Department processed nine applications in 2014. Only six of these applications were approved to join the programme from 2015. In addition, one project transferred to the programme in 2015 following termination of its contract with the Local and Community Development Programme, operated under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

As indicated in my earlier reply, any not-for-profit company wishing to express an interest to be considered for the programme can send an expression of interest to the Department by email to cspinfo @welfare.ie.