Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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234. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will request Pobal to accept a business plan for three full-time equivalent persons in respect of a club (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48588/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports around 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model with funding provided as a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions (FTEs).  Some €46m will be provided under the programme in 2018.

A business plan was submitted by the organisation in question as part of the CSP Recontracting Process in 2017.  Unfortunately, the plan did not establish a strong enough case for the level of support sought and the organisation was advised that support would reduce from one manager and four FTEs to two FTEs from 1^stJuly 2018.  My Department extended this timeframe to end-December 2018 pending submission of a revised business plan to Pobal.

A revised business plan was submitted by the organisation and this has been assessed by Pobal.The revised plan has also failed to establish a strong enough case for the level of CSP support sought and the organisation has now been advised that CSP support will reduce to 2.5 FTEs from January 2019.  That said, the organisation has also been advised that it may appeal this decision and  that it should engage directly with Pobal on the matter.