CSP programmes entitled to additional financial support – Calleary

Mayo Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary has welcomed confirmation that arrangements whereby individual Community Service Programme Companies will be able to access additional financial resources for the increase in the minimum wage are being put in place by the Department of Social Protection.

Deputy Calleary received the news in reply to a Parliamentary Question that he placed to the Minister in the Dáil before Christmas.

“I have been in contact with all the CSP Companies in Mayo for the last number of weeks since the increase in minimum wage was announced. This increase in minimum wage, while welcome, would place extraordinary strain on the resources of the individual companies who operate vital community services throughout the county,” he said.

“It is crucial that the Department puts in place arrangements that would allow these companies to access additional funding to meet the additional costs.

“I am pleased that Minister Burton has confirmed to me that these arrangements are now being put in place. Submissions will be assessed on a case-by-case basis with the annual funding commitment being adjusted accordingly where it is found to be warranted. An advance of 25% of the contract commitments for 2016 has or is in the course of being paid to companies currently in contract under the programme.

“I am calling on all CSP sponsors to now make their submissions to the Department and for the Department to process these applications in a timely and efficient manner so that the services provided by the schemes can continue to be delivered without any further confusion, stress or anxiety,” concluded Deputy Calleary.