705. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether provision will be made in Budget 2027 for 30 additional places under the Community Services Programme and an increase in the level of support for existing participants to reflect higher wage and operating costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66774/26]

My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports the delivery of 453 services nationally via 434 community organisations to provide local social, economic, and environmental services through a social enterprise model, with a budget of €59.4m in 2026.

The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. The CSP Programme currently provides funding towards 1,723 FTEs and 354 manager positions.

I would note that the CSP contribution is not aligned with the minimum wage and is not intended to meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is an annual wage contribution that must be co-funded by other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of an organisation’s facilities or services.

In line with the Programme for Government commitment, on 30th March last I announced an Open Call for new organisations to join the CSP Programme, through a two-stage process. It is my intention to invite successful applicants to join the CSP Programme at the beginning of 2027, and to review the level of support for existing organisations, subject to the relevant budget allocation to be announced next month.