Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2026
938. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether he will review the community services programme in view of concerns that it functions as a partial co-funding model in practice, requiring social enterprises to subsidise core service delivery from non-State income sources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47773/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) provides a co-funding contribution towards the cost of employing a manager, where approved, and full-time equivalent (FTE) posts, to provide services and facilities, that meet local community needs. It supports organisations that operate on a social enterprise model, acting as a fixed co-funding contribution rather than covering all salary costs. This approach is central to operating on a social enterprise model. The goal is to help non-profit organisations deliver vital community services while encouraging them to generate their own supplementary income, through the application of appropriate charges for the use of the services or facilities provided.
The CSP Programme currently supports the delivery of 453 services nationally via 434 community organisations, and provides funding towards the employment of 1,723 FTE posts and 354 manager positions, with an allocation of €59.4 million for 2026.
My Department provided funding increases in each of the past three years to a significant number of CSP-funded organisations, in recognition of the increased costs of employment.
As is standard practice, my Department continues to monitor the various aspects of the CSP Programme in order to identify emerging challenges and, where possible, changes have been applied to address these challenges.
