Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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70. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of new programmes he plans to fund with the community services programme in 2018; if current service providers will continue to be funded; the timeframe for the next submission of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8509/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports 425 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. Funding is provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions. The CSP budget for 2018 is €46.2m.

Last week I approved total funding of €815,000 for 12 social enterprises providing employment to specific disadvantaged groups. This funding was allocated on foot of a call for applications issued in 2017 under Strand 3 of the programme. I expect to approve funding for a small number of additional social enterprises during the year as space and funding becomes available as part of the ongoing management of the programme.

Existing social enterprises will continue to be funded under the programme subject to the completion of the rolling three-year CSP contracting process. Around 120 organisations will complete this process in 2018 and will be re-contracted subject to continued fit and compliance with programme criteria.