Press release
Minister Joe O’Brien announces new applicants to the Community Services Programme (CSP)
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Rural and Community Development
Published on
Last updated on
Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, has today (Friday 20 May 2022) announced 7 new entrants to the Community Services Programme (CSP).
7 organisations based in Monaghan, Dublin, Cavan, Galway, Tipperary, Donegal and Limerick are entering onto the programme and funding is being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development towards the costs of 6 Managers and 15 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions across these organisations.
Announcing the new applicants to the CSP, the Minister said:
“I am delighted to be in a position to announce these new applicants to the Community Service Programme, and to extend the capacity of the CSP to deliver vital services to those most vulnerable in our communities.”
| Organisations name | County | Manager | FTEs |
| Mullaghmatt Cortolvin Community Development Company Limited By Guarantee | Monaghan | 1 | 2 |
| Baldoyle Forum Company Limited by Guarantee | Dublin | 0 | 2 |
| Swanlinbar Development Association Company Limited By Guarantee | Cavan | 1 | 3 |
| Forum Connemara Company Limited by Guarantee | Galway | 1 | 2 |
| Canon Hayes Community Recreation Centre Company Limited by Guarantee | Tipperary | 1 | 1 |
| Ionad Cois Locha Company Limited by Guarantee | Donegal | 1 | 1 |
| St Munchin's Community Centre Company Limited by Guarantee | Limerick | 1 | 4 |
Vital services delivered by the 7 organisations include:
The Minister concluded:
“I want to commend all organisations funded under the CSP on their important work in serving our communities and I look forward to seeing the impact of the positions funded by CSP in these 7 organisations.”
To support the employment and progression for the most distant from the labour market through the operation of a furniture recycling facility in Mullaghmatt, Monaghan town. This facility will accept unwanted second-hand furniture, refurbish it and sell on to locally disadvantaged individuals and families within the local community.
To support the operation and maintenance of a community facility in Baldoyle, Dublin 13 consisting of a large hall, office space, outdoor space and seating.
To support the operation of Trivia House in Swanlinbar, Co. Cavan. The social enterprise promotes tourism in the area through the provision of hostel accommodation with 7 bedrooms (6 ensuite) as well as meeting local community needs through the operation of a community meeting room for hire and use. A separate building at the back is utilized as a digital hub for rental and use and bike hire facility for visitors and the local residents.
To support the management and operation of Diamond Hill Community Sports Centre, a community sports and recreational facility in the disadvantaged area of Letterfrack. The Centre comprises of a community and an astro-turf pitch, shower and changing facilities, a gym, a therapy and meeting room, an office and a kitchenette.
To support the management and operation of the Canon Hayes Recreation Centre which provides recreation and sporting activities in Tipperary town.
To manage the operation of Ionad Cois Locha (The Dunlewey Centre). This is a large tourism focused community facility located at the foot of Errigal Mountain in Donegal. Their facilities include a Restaurant and Tea Room, Craft Shop, Adventure play area, Historic homestead guided visit and tweed weaving demonstration, a 30 minutes boat cruise on Dunlewey Lake, a large hall with stage (600 seat capacity) and a training room.
To prepare and deliver 450 meals per day to socially-excluded people in Limerick City.
The Community Services Programme currently supports over 420 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.
Indecon International Economic Consultants were engaged to carry out an independent review of the CSP. The final report was published in late September 2020 with a High Level Action Plan, prepared by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Pobal. The department and Pobal are currently working on the restructuring of the programme, in consultation with a consultative group. Pending the transition to the new restructured programme, the scheme is closed to new applicants through the Expression of Interest process. It is expected that the programme will facilitate new entrants via targeted calls to address identified gaps in service delivery during 2022.
These new entrants have been in the development phase having submitted their Expression of Interest (EOI) some time ago. Pobal continued to work with those services to progress the development of their applications.