Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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691. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated impact on vulnerable service users and their families of the disruption of a service (details supplied) caused by significant numbers of drivers leaving the company as a result of poor working conditions. [37524/18]

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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692. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the refusal of the management of a company (details supplied) to meet union representatives; and his views on the possible consequences of this lack of meaningful dialogue on the service for some of the State’s most vulnerable citizens. [37525/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 691 and 692 together.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. Around 400 organisations are supported under the CSP, with funding provided as a contribution towards the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions.

The organisation in question is a private company. Accordingly, all internal operations including general employment and industrial relations issues are matters for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage.

However, I can confirm that CSP funded positions in the organisation in question are currently filled. I am also advised that the organisation met with SIPTU earlier this month and expects to meet with all staff this week. I am further advised that the company will work with SIPTU through agreed industrial relations channels to resolve the dispute.

Both Pobal and the Department will be kept informed of developments in these matters.