Over €1M to assist organisations supported under the Community Services Programme

The Department of Rural and Community Development has approved funding in excess of €1 million to continue the Community Services Programme (CSP) Support Fund according to Minister Michael Ring TD.

The CSP Support Fund will assist community organisations which are participants in the Community Services Programme and are struggling to meet the minimum wage levels.

The CSP 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 supported organisations. It typically supports organisations to meet local service gaps and provide access to services and facilities that would otherwise generally be unavailable.

Announcing the funding, the Minister said: “I’m delighted that the Government has decided to increase the national minimum wage once again. The CSP Support Fund will assist 263 CSP supported organisations. This is an increase of over 100 organisations from the 2016 levels.

“The Fund will greatly assist organisations that are struggling to meet the minimum wage levels. I have increased the contribution per full-time equivalent from €350 to €1,100.”

The Minister thanked the organisations supported under the Community Services Programme: “I have to commend the management and staff of the organisations supported through the Community Services Programme. They are carrying out invaluable work in their local communities.”

Pobal carried out an assessment of all CSP supported organisations and the CSP Support Fund was approved by the Department based on their recommendation.

The CSP Support Fund is being run on a once-off basis in 2019 pending the review of the CSP which will commence in February. The review will inform decisions on the future shape and structure of the programme.

A detailed list of qualifying organisations is available on the Department's website here.