Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 February 2026
36. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he is aware of the funding difficulties being experienced by the Fingal centre in Finglas, following his visit to the centre in 2025; and if he has given further consideration to open the Community Services Programme for applications to allow centres such as this to apply. [8385/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Finglas Centre, operating under Part 18 of the Companies Act 2014, provides a range of supports and services to those who are disadvantaged in the catchment area of West Finglas. I am advised that the Finglas Centre is funded via a number of organisations such as the Department of Social Protection, the Health Service Executive, and Dublin and Fingal County Councils.
Notwithstanding this, my Department received a request for funding in 2023 from Dublin Northwest Partnership (DNP), outlining the importance of the Finglas Centre as a community hub and facility for service delivery, and advising that the centre was experiencing a financial shortfall. DNP is a Local Development Company that delivers my Department's Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in the area and regularly utilises the Finglas Centre to deliver SICAP and other services in the locality.
On review of the request, initial funding of €20k was provided to the centre, to ensure the centre would continue operating while also engaging the services of a financial mentor from DNP. On foot of the financial mentoring, further funding of €35k was provided to the centre and recommendations were made to secure financial viability of the Finglas Centre going forward. As a condition of the funding, the Finglas Centre was required to apply to join the Community Services Programme (CSP) at the next available opportunity.
My Department’s CSP Programme currently supports 426 community-based organisations, with a budget of €59.4m allocated for 2026, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Programme provides a contribution towards the employment of approved manager and full-time equivalent positions. The Programme is not aligned to the minimum wage and is not intended to meet the full employment cost of supported posts, which must be co-funded by other sources such as revenue generated from the provision of services.
I am pleased to advise that, on 17 December last, Minister Calleary and I announced our intention to hold an open call for new organisations to join the CSP Programme in early 2026, in line with a Programme for Government commitment. The design of this open call is underway and details, including eligible community services and organisations, will be announced in due course.
