Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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264. To ask the Minister for Social Protection when a decision will be made regarding a recommendation by Pobal concerning a community association (details supplied) in County Cork which applied under the Community Services Programme Business Plan 2015 to 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22381/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, 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. It provides valuable resourcing for service delivery undertaken by not-for-profit companies and co-operatives 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 is being provided for the programme in 2015 which will maintain the current level of activity.

A business plan was submitted by the company as part the 2014 re-contracting process but was considered weak. The company was given the opportunity to address the concerns and to re-submit a more robust proposal. Following a recommendation on the business plan submitted by Pobal to the Department, a contract under the CSP will be offered to the company in the coming weeks. The value of the contract will be of the order of €184,000 per annum if the conditions of the contract continue to be achieved.