Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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251. To ask the Minister for Social Protection an bhfuil sé i gceist aici glacadh le hiarratais nua do thograí a bheadh ag iarraidh a bheith páirteach sa Chlár um Sheirbhísí don Phobal (CSP); má ta, an féidir iarratais a dhéanamh anois; an bhfuil foirm iarratais ann a chaithfidh tograí a líonadh; cad é an dáta deiridh a ghlacfar le hiarratais; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh [31682/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Community Services Programme (CSP) provides financial support to community companies that provide revenue generating services of a socially inclusive nature. Many of these companies are also funded from other sources and generate revenue from the public use of their facilities and services.

In May 2017, my Department announced a call for proposals under strand 3 of CSP, which focuses on social enterprises that employ those people who are most distant from the labour market. This is in response to the additional €1m in funding provided for the Programme in last year’s Budget.

Given the level of resources available and the number of companies currently supported, the Department has been unable to make an open call for new proposals under the other strands of the programme for a number of years. While priority will be given to applications received from the latest call for proposals, as outlined above, from time to time and as resources allow, the Department may consider 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 be considered for the programme can request an Expression of Interest form from my Department at cspinfo@welfare.ie.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.