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Indecon Consultants appointed to carry out independent review of the Community Services Programme – Minister Ring

Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, has today (Thursday) announced that, following a public procurement process, Indecon Consultants have been appointed to carry out an independent review of the Community Services Programme (CSP).

The CSP supports community-based organisations delivering vital services through a social enterprise model. It provides a contribution towards the cost of employing staff in CSP supported organisations. Some €46 million will be made available under the Programme in 2019.

Announcing the appointment Minister Ring said:

“Following a public procurement process my Department has appointed Indecon Consultants as the independent review body. I am delighted to see the review commence as I want to ensure that the programme fits with overall Government priorities as well as my Department’s other community programmes and policy objectives.”

The review will take approximately six months and will inform decisions on the future shape and structure of the programme.

The Minister added:

“When the responsibility for the CSP transferred to my Department in January 2018, my immediate priority was to ensure its smooth transfer and maintain continuity of service for funded organisations. I look forward to receiving the review report and to ensuring that the CSP provides the best possible support for communities throughout Ireland.”

A review of the programme is opportune given the emerging policies for local development, community development and social enterprise, and also that no formal review has been carried out since the programme was introduced in 2006. The review will ensure the programme is more closely aligned with current Department and Government policy and is better placed to meet community needs.

In concluding, the Minister thanked the organisations supported under the Programme:

“The CSP supported organisations are carrying out invaluable work in their local communities and I must commend the staff and Boards of these organisations.”

List of CSP supported organisations

ENDS

Notes to editor:

The 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. Eligible organisations are supported under three strands:

Strand 1 – Community Halls and Facilities

Strand 2 – Community Services for Disadvantaged Communities

Strand 3 – Community Organisations Employing People Distant from the Labour Market.

Funding is provided to community organisations as a fixed contribution towards the cost of employing a manager and/or an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions (FTEs). The CSP provides €19,033 per FTE and €32,000 per manager. More than €46m is allocated to the programme for 2019, supporting approx. 1,650 FTEs and 300 manager positions.

The CSP contribution is not aligned with the minimum wage and CSP supported organisations are expected to contribute to the cost of the funded positions. An additional €1m was announced in January 2019 to help CSP supported organisations who were struggling to meet the minimum wage.

The review will examine, amongst other things:

  • The impact of the CSP on the wider community;
  • The nature, range, diversity and scale of CSP funded organisations;
  • The range of eligible services and part-funded staff;
  • The value added to services being delivered to vulnerable communities that would not be delivered otherwise;
  • The job opportunities and/or career advancement for part-funded staff from marginalised communities;
  • The role and structure of the CSP funding contribution;
  • The complementarity and/or overlap with other Government-funded programmes and schemes;
  • The programme evaluation criteria;
  • The application, re-contracting and appeals processes;
  • The Governance and programme management arrangements; and
  • Good practice internationally in the provision, funding and governance of similar community services programmes.

And consider:

  • The advantages of setting a very clear vision for the CSP;
  • Whether the programme as currently structured is appropriate and delivering on the strategic goals of the Department;
  • Whether the programme is providing value for money in the context of the overall community impact;
  • Whether the programme is meeting the needs of part-funded staff, CSP supported organisations and end-users of the community services provided;
  • Whether, in the management of the programme, the appropriate balance is being struck between compliance, monitoring and oversight on one hand and supporting, developing and engaging with supported enterprises and services on the other; and
  • Whether the current grant limits and funding models are sustainable, having regard to the ongoing viability of funded organisations.

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