John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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954. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to the possibility of the closure of immigrant services (details supplied) due to the lack of funding for the support officer; if the funding required of €20,000.00 will be sanctioned as a matter of urgency given the importance of this work and the new challenges arising from the intake of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34099/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department is currently providing a range of supports to assist organisations with the challenges arising from the arrival of those affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

I have been advised that the service in question is housed within a facility that is currently supported under my Department's  Community Services Programme (CSP).  This programme supports community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model by providing an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each fulltime equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager.

The CSP supported facility in Kilkenny is currently in receipt of a CSP funding contribution of €57,099 for three Full Time Equivalents (FTEs) positions during 2022. 

In order to apply for funding under the CSP Programme, I would encourage the immigrant service to prepare a proposal to be submitted to the designated Pobal Development Coordinator via the existing CSP funded organisation in the facility.  Pobal administers the CSP programme on behalf of my Department and they appraise all applications for additional funded posts, for onward submission to my Department for consideration.