Minister Jerry Buttimer announces Open Call for the Community Service Programme
-
From: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
- Published on: 30 March 2026
- Last updated on: 30 March 2026
- Call for applications under the Community Services Programme (CSP)
- Programme benefits groups providing services and creating employment for disadvantaged communities
- Meets a Programme for Government commitment to open the programme to new entrants
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD has today announced an Open Call for Applications under the Community Services Programme (CSP). The CSP Programme currently supports over 420 community-based organisations.
Announcing the new call at Meitheal Mara in Cork City today, the Minister said:
“I am delighted to launch this Call for Applications under the Community Services Programme. The CSP Programme is designed to deliver employment opportunities to disadvantaged areas and empower social enterprises and community organisations to address and respond to the needs of those most marginalised within their localities.”
The overarching vision of the CSP Programme is to support community organisations that operate to deliver a social purpose, to offer services that meet identified needs and provide employment locally contributing to sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities.
Fulfilling a commitment made in the Programme for Government, this successful programme is now being opened to new entrants. It will provide community-based organisations with an opportunity to access funding to support the employment of staff, in line with the programme’s objectives and principles.
The Minister continued:
“The CSP Programme plays a vital role in supporting a wide range of services, facilities and activities that enhance the quality of life for specific disadvantaged groups within our communities. This Open Call will be essential in expanding those supports by bringing new organisations and services onto the programme.”
Pobal will provide support to organisations interested in making a preliminary application to join the CSP Programme from today until the closing date for applications on 8th May 2026.
Following submission of a preliminary application that meets all eligible criteria, shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full application to Pobal by 28th August 2026.
Information Events will be held for successful applicants applying for the programme on the week beginning 27th July 2026. This will ensure those applying to the CSP Programme are fully equipped with the information that they need to apply for this funding. Details are available on the Pobal CSP webpage and on the Department's website and social media channels.
Meitheal Mara Chairperson, Marianne Keane stated:
“The Community Services Programme has been central to everything we do at Meitheal Mara — supporting jobs, skills, and inclusion in our community. We’re proud to welcome the Minister and to share how this investment is making a real difference on the ground.”
Notes
Community Services Programme
The Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 445 community-based services via 426 organisations, to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model.
The CSP Programme, which is not aligned to the minimum wage, provides a funding contribution towards the cost of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) positions and, where warranted, manager positions. The funding provided is not intended to meet the full salary cost of supported posts. Qualifying applicants must be social enterprises capable of generating income from their activities in order to meet the full salary costs of the supported posts, for example, from income received from the public use of facilities and services. The CSP contribution supports organisations to meet local service gaps and provide access to services and facilities that would generally be unavailable.
As of February 2026, there are 350 Managers and 1,718 FTEs currently being supported under the Programme. The current CSP Programme commenced in January 2023 and will cease in December 2027. The CSP Programme is administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
A further nine organisations who were waitlisted following the last Open Call, are in the process of joining the Programme.
The current iteration of the CSP Programme runs from 2023 to 2027.
The strategic objectives of the CSP Programme are:
- To address community needs through supporting services and community assets ensuring these are inclusive and responsive to those experiencing disadvantage or marginalisation.
- To provide employment opportunities and improve the employability of individuals most distant from the labour market/or in disadvantaged areas.
- To strengthen and support community organisations operating as social enterprises to deliver improved facilities and services and to pilot innovative social economy initiatives.
The horizontal principles of the Programme are:
- Promoting social inclusion and equality
- Building sustainable communities
Revised Allocations
As part of a restructuring process completed in 2022, a new funding rate allocation model for the CSP Programme was introduced in January 2023, as an alternative to the previous flat rate payment model. CSP organisations operating in areas of higher disadvantage, employing at least 70% of individuals from the prescribed programme target groups and having limited earning potential, benefitted from the higher funding rate category.
The revised rates for 2026 are set out in the table hereunder:
|
Overall Rating |
Rate per FTE 2025 |
Rate per FTE 2026 |
INCREASE |
Rate per Manager 2025 |
Rate per Manager 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
High |
€27,600 |
€28,860 |
€1,260 |
€37,500 |
€37,900 |
|
Medium |
€24,930 |
€26,090 |
€1,160 |
€35,000 |
€35,400 |
|
Low |
€19,033 |
€19,033 |
no change |
€32,000 |
€32,400 |