John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1095. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the programmes within his Department that support community groups to employ staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17524/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a range of funding programmes which rejuvenate communities, delivering social and economic benefits. With regards to those which can support community groups to employ staff the main schemes of relevance are the Community Services Programme and the Scheme to Support National Organisations.

Funding of €55.4 million has been allocated to the Community Services Programme for 2025, to support over 430 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards the employment of over 2,000 people across the country, providing vital services for people and communities in need.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations delivering services and supports with a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. The SSNO provides part funding for salary costs of a core member(s) of staff in the national organisation and non-salary costs that are directly attributable to the SSNO-funded post. The current iteration of the SSNO commenced on 1 July 2022, initially for period of 3 years. The Scheme has been extended to conclude at the end of 2025. Under the current iteration, approximately €24 million will be provided to 82 national, community and voluntary organisations over the period of the scheme.

Details of all funding schemes are available at www.gov.ie/en/collection/500c6-what-was-funded/.