Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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1787. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the amount allocated to the community services programme support fund in 2016 and 2017; the number of applications made to the support fund in 2016 and 2017; and the amount paid out in 2016, and to date in 2017. [37349/17]

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. The contribution from the CSP is towards the wage costs of the companies. My Department does not set the wage rate but requires the payment of appropriate wage rates, consistent with local norms.

My Department established a CSP Support Fund for a fixed period of time (2016-2018) to assist existing services funded under the programme in enhancing their sustainability as social enterprises so that they might be more able to pay the minimum wage. Funding is provided on a sliding scale for up to 3 years from 2016 to 2018.

In 2016, the approved support budget was €515,050. In 2017 the budget is €317,225.

A total of 243 applications to the Fund were received in 2016. Of these, 166 were approved for payment. A total of €515,050 was paid out of the support fund in respect of 2016 allocations. A total of €237,919 has been paid out to date in respect of 2017 allocations.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.