Paul McAuliffe (Dublin North-West, Fianna Fail)
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273. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is aware of the funding difficulties being experienced by the Fingal Centre in Finglas, and his predecessor’s visit to the centre; and if the Community Services Programme will be opened for applications to allow centres such as this to apply. [14363/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department received a funding proposal in 2023 from Dublin Northwest Partnership (DNP), outlining the importance of the Fingal Centre as a community hub and facility for service delivery, and advising the centre was experiencing a financial shortfall.

DNP are a Local Development Company who deliver our Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in the area and regularly utilise the Fingal Centre to deliver SICAP and other services in the locality.

On review of the proposal, initial funding of €20k was provided to the Fingal Centre in 2023, to ensure the centre would continue operating while also engaging the services of a financial mentor from DNP, with a view to developing recommendations to secure future financial viability of the Fingal Centre from 2024 onwards.

On receipt of the financial viability report in early 2024, further funding of €35k was provided to the Fingal Centre to allow continued provisions of services throughout the year. As a condition of this funding and in line with the recommendation of the viability report, the Fingal Centre would commence the process, through engagement with Pobal, of applying for the Community Services Programme (CSP), with a view to developing a sustainable business plan and securing long-term funding for 2026 and beyond.

As you are aware, my Department also has responsibility for the CSP which provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. The additional funding of €3m, provided to the CSP Programme in Budget 2025, has been fully allocated to meet the increased employment costs of existing CSP-funded organisations, in 2025.

I intend to examine the scope for additional funding for the CSP later this year, having regard to the funding needs of existing organisations and of organisations who wish to join the programme. I would encourage the Fingal Centre to maintain contact with Pobal at csp@pobal.ie to keep them updated on their status.