From Department of Rural and Community Development
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Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Joe O’Brien, has today (9 September) announced funding of almost €1 million for the Community Services Programme 2022 Support Fund. The funding is being provided to support Community Services Programme (CSP) organisations in a weak financial position, pending the transitioning of CSP supported organisations to the redesigned programme in January 2023.
Announcing the 2022 support funding, the Minister said:
“While all CSP supported organisations are now open following the COVID-19 pandemic, many organisations remain in financial need. As a result, I am delighted to be in a position to announce this additional funding to continue the CSP Support Fund in 2022 to support these organisations so that they, in turn, can continue to provide access to their facilities and services across our communities. The Support Fund will provide an additional contribution of €1,500 per full-time equivalent position.”
The Minister continued:
“This funding will help alleviate some of the financial challenges faced by CSP supported organisations with limited earning potential, and maintain their viability, pending the planned introduction of revised funding arrangements in 2023, following approval of the CSP redesign in July this year.”
The Minister concluded:
“I am very pleased to continue to support the valuable work of community organisations in delivering vital services to the most vulnerable in our communities. The continuation of the CSP Support Fund, in addition to other funding streams made available through my department including the Stability Fund, Community Activities Fund under the Community Enhancement Programme and the most recently launched €15 million Community Centres Investment fund, will continue to provide necessary and essential supports to these organisations.”
This extension of the CSP Support Fund will be administered over the coming weeks by Pobal, who manage the Programme on behalf of the department.
The Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports community-based organisations to provide local, social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of staff in CSP organisations. It typically supports organisations to meet local service gaps and provide access to services and facilities that would otherwise generally be unavailable.
Following an independent review of the CSP, the programme is currently being redesigned. As part of the restructuring process a new funding rate allocation model will be implemented for the CSP based on three weighted criteria, as an alternative to the current flat rate payment model. The revised funding rates for the restructured programme will be dependent on budget negotiations as we proceed to seek additional resources in the 2023 budget to implement the new CSP funding rate allocation model for FTEs and Managers.
It is anticipated that all existing organisations will transition to the new programme in January 2023 following an application process later this year. The process will be carefully managed with re-application support workshops currently taking place.
Pending the transition to the new restructured programme, the scheme is closed to new applications through the Expression of Interest process. It is anticipated that the programme may open calls to address identified gaps in service delivery later in 2022, and any additional entrants will be considered in light of available budgets.
Funding of €1,500 per FTE will be provided on a once-off basis to qualifying organisations in 2022. It is expected that it will support more than 140 organisations based on a detailed assessment of financial viability as at year end 31 December 2021.
Organisations that are not successful to be included in the 2022 Support Fund, will be given an opportunity to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in writing to The Appeals Co-Ordinator, Pobal, Holbrook House, Holles Street, Dublin 2 within 10 working days from notification of the outcome of the review undertaken.