Written answers

Thursday, 19 October 2017

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Community Services Programme

Photo of Willie PenroseWillie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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240. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on the recent decision by the community sports and services directorate of Pobal to discontinue funding for mid-Ireland tourism which promotes tourism in the midland region (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44442/17]

Photo of Regina DohertyRegina 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 social inclusion nature. The CSP works on a social-enterprise model which means that it does not fully fund contract holders but requires that they generate revenue by charging fees or raising funds. All CSP recipients are obliged to meet these criteria. These social enterprises also remain responsible for their own budgets and financial liabilities.

The organisation referred to by the Deputy received funding under the CSP for one manager and two full-time equivalent (FTE) posts. This equates to funding in the order of €70,000 per annum.

The organisation submitted their business plan in 2016, as part of the normal re-contracting process. During this process, it was found that the service did not meet the required standards in terms of strategic fit, value for money and the demonstration of the continued need for the service.

Overall, the review found that the service:

- is primarily meeting the needs of a membership base, the majority of which are private businesses. This is not a priority for continued funding under the CSP which is focused on groups that provide services to specific disadvantaged groups, rather than private businesses;

- has low levels of foot-fall and opening hours when compared to other tourism operations supported by the CSP. Given the service primarily benefits private business, rather that CSP target groups, the funding provided to the organisation does not represent value for money under the Programme; and

- has not adequately and clearly articulated what the key needs of their clients are and how they propose to meet them, particularly in terms of the target groups of the CSP.

As a result of these findings, the service was recommended to exit the CSP on 30 June 2017.

This decision was appealed to Pobal on 29 November 2016. An independent review was carried out which upheld the original decision. This was communicated to the organisation on 20 December 2016.

Discussions were held between Pobal and the organisation in January 2017, outlining options for alternative funding post programme exit in June 2017.

In February 2017 the organisation requested an extension to their contract until 30 September 2017 to allow them to complete their summer schedule and a timely wind-up of operations. This extension was facilitated and approved by my Department and an addendum to their contract was issued on 21 February 2017.

This organisation has now exhausted the appeals process for the CSP. For the reasons outlined above, I would now urge them to explore other sources of funding, outside of the CSP, in order to continue operating.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

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