Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
694. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the assistance her Department can provide if funding is available to help a centre (details supplied) which is now attempting to fundraise in order to keep the centre open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21667/24]
View answerLast December, the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) was launched, with capital funding of €6 million to assist community groups across the country. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most.
The Programme also included a special ring-fenced fund of €1m to support Women’s Groups, in recognition of the growing numbers of Women’s Sheds, Groups and networks around the country.
An application was received from the organisation in question under the Local Enhancement Programme 2024. The LEP is now closed to applicants and details of successful projects will be published on the Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd in the coming weeks.
To further support communities, Minister Humphreys and I announced a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund on March 15th last. The additional funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.
This allocation is being targeted at larger projects than in 2023, with a minimum of €50,000 per project, and will continue to support projects delivering a real and tangible benefit to communities. Applications under the current round of funding can be submitted by local authorities across three phases, so as to allow flexibility and adequate engagement and collaboration on larger projects. The phased closing dates for receipt of applications are May 31st, September 30th and January 31st, 2025.
My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model, with funding of almost €53 million in 2024.
The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution for each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
The CSP contribution per full-time equivalent position is not aligned with the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is an annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisations concerned from other sources, for example, from income generated from the use of facilities and services provided.
The aim of the CSP is to create sustainable jobs for those most distant from the labour market, in particular for those who are long term unemployed and from specific target groups.
Funding of €1m was made available for a Call for Proposals in respect of specific CSP services which issued in March 2023. Interested organisations were requested to submit a concept note as the first step in the application process. Pobal, who managed and administered this Open Call on behalf of my Department, have advised that the organisation in question did not submit a concept note for consideration.
As a result of this Call for Proposals, 14 new applicants were approved entry to the Community Services Programme on 13th December last, supporting 13 manager positions and 23 full time equivalent positions. A further 9 applications are currently in the pipeline, subject to available funding.
While no further calls for proposals for CSP are anticipated at this time, my Department can hold contact details on file should the programme open for new applicants in the near future. Contact details for a nominated person can be provided to the email address csp@drcd.gov.ie. It should be noted that any additional new entrants will be considered in light of available budgets.
I would urge the organisation in question to consider contacting their Local Development Company or Local Authority Local Community Development Committee, who may be able to provide some guidance on other supports available at this time. They may also be able to provide information on the Department of Social Protection's TUS and Community Employment (CE) schemes.
