Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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461. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the next community services programme; when it will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40699/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports more than 400 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 (FTE) positions. More than €46 million is available to support community organisations under the programme in 2018.

My Department continues to accept expressions of interest under the programme and funding for new organisations will be considered, in light of available budgets, during the year.

My Department will commence a review of the CSP shortly. The review will consider, among other things, how the programme fits with overall Government priorities as well as my Department’s other community programmes and policy objectives. Decisions on the future shape and structure of the programme will be determined on foot of the review.