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Community Services Programme (CSP)

• The CSP is a government-funded programme (administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development) that supports community-based organisations to deliver local services and create employment.

Key Features

• Funding: Provides a contribution towards the cost of employing staff to deliver essential local services — particularly in areas where the market alone can’t sustain them.

• Focus: Often supports social enterprises, community centres, childcare services, tourism initiatives, and local development projects.

• Employment: Creates full-time equivalent jobs, often targeted at people from disadvantaged backgrounds or those far from the labour market.

• Community Benefit: Services must be designed to meet local needs and benefit the wider community, not just generate profit.

• Governance: Organisations in the CSP are usually Companies Limited by Guarantee (CLGs) with a voluntary board, and they must follow strong governance and financial reporting standards.

CSP in FDCL

• Employing core staff (e.g., administrators, maintenance, support workers)

• Keeping services viable in rural or disadvantaged areas