Ó An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail
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Joe O’Brien, Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, has today (20 October) announced the new Community Services Programme (CSP) funding rates to apply under the restructured Community Services Programme (CSP) funding model, which will take effect from January 2023.
Announcing the revised funding model the Minister said:
“I am delighted to announce the new funding rates to apply to the CSP Programme in 2023. These rates are based on a sustainable, differential model which takes account of the actual needs of organisations, rather than the flat rate payments model which has applied until now. Under this model, a higher rate of funding will be applied to CSP supported employees in organisations that are operating in areas of high disadvantage, employing individuals from the prescribed programme target group(s) and have limited earning potential.”
A total increase of €4,000 for both full time positions and managers is being provided for those organisations considered to have a high funding need, with €2,000 per full-time position and manager being provided to those with a medium funding need. No change is proposed for the small number of organisations considered to have a low funding need – these are organisations with the strongest earning potential operating in less disadvantaged areas.
The new funding rates came about following a review of the Community Services Programme and having regard to the recommendations of the 2020 Indecon report and the commitment to develop a sustainable, differentiated, needs-based funding model for the CSP Programme.
The Minister went on to say:
“I am confident that this revised funding model, based on the needs of organisations, will contribute significantly to addressing the challenges faced by CSP supported organisations. The new funding rates will ensure that these organisations are placed on a sounder, needs-based financial footing, reflecting the environment in which they operate. I am very confident that the outcome of these new funding arrangements will ensure that these organisations are better placed to meet the needs of the communities they serve into the future.”
The online re-application process for existing CSP supported organisation to transition to the restructured programme, closed on 14 October, the process was based solely on existing staffing levels in all CSP supported organisations. The applications are currently being appraised and organisations will be notified of their funding allocations in December.
The Community Services Programme 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. The current contribution provided towards the employment of each full time equivalent position is €19,033 and €32,000 per manager.
Indecon International Economic Consultants were engaged to carry out the independent review of the CSP. The final report was published in late September 2020 with a High Level Action Plan, prepared by the department and Pobal. The department engaged a Consultative Group that was representative of stakeholders to provide information and insights on various components of the programme.
Existing organisations will transition to the new programme by January 2023. In advance of this, all existing organisations were required to reapply under the new programme. These applications are currently being assessed.
The revised allocations are outlined below. There is no change for those organisations considered to have a low funding need.
| Overall rating | Overall rating % | New rate per FTE | New rate per manager |
| High | 8-10 80% to 100% | €23,033 | €36,000 |
| Medium | 5-7 50% to 79% | 21,033 | €34, 000 |
| Low (current rates) | 0-40% to 49% | €19,033 (no change) | €32,000 (no change) |