Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1334. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the name, location and number of participants and managers on all the community services projects in counties Mayo and Galway; the number of applications on hand for new projects in both counties including their location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44779/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model, with an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.

Following an independent review of the programme, the CSP Programme was restructured and a needs-based, differentiated funding allocation model was introduced for the Programme from January 2023, as an alternative to the previous flat rate payment model. This new model was designed to support those organisations most in need, providing a higher rate of funding to supported organisations that are identified as operating in areas of high disadvantage, employing individuals from the prescribed programme target groups and with evidence of limited earning potential.

According to the most recent information available, there are currently 35 single service organisations supported by CSP funding in Co. Mayo and 24 organisations providing 25 services in Co. Galway, as set out in the spreadsheet provided.

In March 2023, funding of €1m was made available for a new Call for Proposals in respect of specific CSP services, which resulted in 14 additional organisations being approved entry to the CSP Programme on 13^th of December 2023, supporting 13 manager positions and 23 FTE positions. Applications are on hand from the following organisations from Counties Galway and Mayo. Funding of these and other applications on hand will be subject to available resources:

• Venture Out Wilderness Project, based in Co. Galway, requested support for two FTEs.
• Charlestown Bellaghy and Districts Recreational Centre based in Charlestown, Co. Mayo, requested support for two FTEs.