Community Service Programme: Open Call
Press Release: Monday 30th March 2026
Minister Jerry Buttimer announces Open Call for the Community Service Programme
- 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
- For more info visit here
Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TDhas today, (Monday, 30th March 2026) 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 will be shared on the Pobal CSP webpage and on the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht’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.”
For more info visit here
ENDS. Contact: The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Press Office
01-773 6843 / 087-1734633 Press.office@drcdg.gov.ie gov.ie/drcdg | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn |Threads | Bluesky | WhatsApp | YouTube
Notes to editor:
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 |
The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
The expanded Department is now known as the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD leads the Department and is supported by the Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD.
Preasráiteas: Dé Luain 30 Márta 2026
Fógraíonn an tAire Jerry Buttimer – Gairm ar Iarratais ar Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail
- Gairm ar Iarratais ar Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail (CSP)
- Tacaíonn an clár le grúpaí a sholáthraíonn seirbhísí
agus a chruthaíonn fostaíocht do phobail faoi mhíbhuntáiste - Comhlíonann sé gealltanas i gclár an Rialtais an clár
a oscailt d’iontrálaithe nua - Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais tabhair cuairt anseo
Inniu, Dé Luain, an 30 Márta 2026, d’fhógair an tAire Stáit atá freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, gairm ar iarratais ar Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail (CSP). Tacaíonn an clár le breis is 420 eagraíocht phobalbhunaithe faoi láthair.
Ag fógairt na gairme nua ag Meitheal Mara i gcathair Chorcaí inniu, dúirt an tAire:
“Tá áthas orm an ghairm seo ar iarratais ar chlár na seirbhísí pobail a sheoladh. Dearadh CSP chun deiseanna fostaíochta a sholáthar do cheantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste agus chun cumhacht a thabhairt d’fhiontair shóisialta agus d’eagraíochtaí pobail aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais na ndaoine is imeallaithe laistigh dá gceantair áitiúla agus freagairt dóibh.”
Is í fís fhoriomlán an chláir tacú le heagraíochtaí pobail a oibríonn chun cuspóir shóisialta a bhaint amach, seirbhísí a thairiscint a chomhlíonann riachtanais a aithnítear agus fostaíocht a sholáthar go háitiúil a chuireann le pobail inbhuanaithe, chuimsitheacha agus chumhachtaithe.
Ag comhlíonadh gealltanais a tugadh i gclár an Rialtais, osclaítear an clár rathúil seo do rannpháirtithe nua anois. Cuirfear deis ar fáil ann d’eagraíochtaí pobail rochtain a fháil ar mhaoiniú chun tacú le fostaíocht foirne, i gcomhréir le cuspóirí agus prionsabail an chláir.
Ar an dara dul síos, dúirt an tAire:
“Tá ról ríthábhachtach ag CSP i dtaca le raon leathan seirbhísí, áiseanna agus gníomhaíochtaí a thacú a fheabhsaíonn caighdeán na beatha do ghrúpaí faoi mhíbhuntáiste sonracha laistigh dár bpobail. Beidh an ghairm oscailte seo riachtanach chun na tacaíochtaí sin a leathnú trí eagraíochtaí agus seirbhísí nua a thabhairt isteach sa chlár.”
Cuirfidh Pobal tacaíocht ar fáil d’eagraíochtaí ar spéis leo réamhiarratais a dhéanamh chun páirt a ghlacadh i CSP ón lá inniu go dtí an dáta deiridh d’iarratais ar an 8 Bealtaine.
Tar éis réamhiarratas a chur isteach a chomhlíonann na critéir incháilithe go léir, tabharfar cuireadh d’iarratasóirí ar an ngearrliosta iarratas iomlán a chur isteach chuig Pobal faoin 28 Lúnasa.
Reáchtálfar Imeachtaí Faisnéise d’iarratasóirí ar éirigh leo an tseachtain dar tosach an 27 Iúil. Cinnteoidh sé seo go mbeidh an fhaisnéis a theastaíonn uathu chun iarratas a dhéanamh ar an maoiniú seo ag na daoine atá ag déanamh iarratais ar CSP. Roinnfear sonraí ar leathanach gréasáin CSP Pobal agus ar shuíomh gréasáin agus ar chainéil mheáin shóisialta an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.
Dúirt Cathaoirleach Mheitheal Mara, Marianne Keane:
“Tá Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail lárnach i ngach rud a dhéanaimid ag Meitheal Mara — ag tacú le poist, scileanna agus cuimsiú inár bpobal. Táimid bródúil as fáilte a chur roimh an Aire agus a roinnt conas atá an infheistíocht seo ag déanamh fíordhifríochtaí ar an talamh.”
Le haghaidh tuilleadh eolais tabhair cuairt anseo
CRÍOCH. Teagmháil: Preasoifig an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta
01-773 6843 / 087-1734633 Press.office@drcdg.gov.ie gov.ie/drcdg | X | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn |Threads | Bluesky | WhatsApp | YouTube
Nótaí don Eagarthóir
Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail
Tacaíonn Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail (CSP) le 445 sheirbhís phobalbhunaithe faoi láthair trí 426 eagraíocht, chun seirbhísí sóisialta, eacnamaíocha agus comhshaoil áitiúla a sholáthar trí mhúnla fiontair shóisialta.
Soláthraíonn CSP, nach bhfuil ailínithe leis an íosphá, ranníocaíocht mhaoinithe i dtreo chostas choibhéis phost lánaimseartha agus, i gcás inar gá, post bainisteora. Níl sé beartaithe go n-íocfaidh an maoiniú a chuirtear ar fáil costas iomlán tuarastail na bpost a fhaigheann tacaíocht. Ní mór d’iarratasóirí cáilitheacha a bheith ina bhfiontair shóisialta atá in ann ioncam a ghiniúint óna ngníomhaíochtaí chun costais iomlána tuarastail na bpost a fhaigheann tacaíocht a íoc, mar shampla, ó ioncam a fhaightear ó úsáid phoiblí áiseanna agus seirbhísí. Tacaíonn ranníocaíocht CSP le heagraíochtaí chun bearnaí seirbhíse áitiúla a líonadh agus rochtain a sholáthar ar sheirbhísí agus áiseanna nach mbeadh ar fáil de ghnáth.
Ó mhí Feabhra 2026 i leith, tá 350 bainisteoir agus 1,718 gcoibhéis phost lánaimseartha á dtacú faoi láthair faoin gclár. Thosaigh an clár reatha i mí Eanáir 2023 agus scoirfidh sé i mí na Nollag 2027. Tá CSP á riaradh ag Pobal thar ceann an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta.
Tá naoi n-eagraíocht eile a bhí ar liosta feithimh i ndiaidh na gairme oscailte deireanaí i mbun dul isteach sa chlár.
Tá leagan reatha CSP ar siúl ó 2023 go 2027.
Seo a leanas cuspóirí straitéiseacha CSP:
- Aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais an phobail trí sheirbhísí agus acmhainní pobail a thacú, lena chinntiú go bhfuil siad seo cuimsitheach agus freagrúil dóibh siúd atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste nó imeallú.
- Deiseanna fostaíochta a sholáthar agus infhostaitheacht na ndaoine is faide ón margadh saothair/nó i gceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste a fheabhsú.
- Eagraíochtaí pobail atá ag feidhmiú mar fhiontair shóisialta a neartú agus a thacú chun áiseanna agus seirbhísí feabhsaithe a sholáthar agus chun tionscnaimh nuálacha geilleagair shóisialta a phíolótú.
Seo a leanas prionsabail chothrománacha an chláir:
- Cuimsiú sóisialta agus comhionannas a chur chun cinn
- Pobail inbhuanaithe a thógáil
Leithdháiltí athbhreithnithe
Mar chuid de phróiseas athstruchtúraithe a críochnaíodh in 2022, tugadh isteach samhail nua leithdháilte ráta maoinithe do CSP i mí Eanáir 2023, mar mhalairt ar an tsamhail íocaíochta ráta comhréidh roimhe seo. Baineann eagraíochtaí CSP atá ag feidhmiú i gceantair faoi mhíbhuntáiste níos measa, a fhostaíonn 70% ar a laghad de dhaoine ó na grúpaí sprice cláir forordaithe agus a bhfuil acmhainneacht tuillimh theoranta acu, leas as an gcatagóir ráta maoinithe níos airde.
Leagtar amach na rátaí athbhreithnithe do 2026 sa tábla thíos:
| Rátáil Fhoriomlán | Ráta in aghaidh Choibhéis Phost Lán-Aimseartha 2025 | Ráta in aghaidh Choibhéis Phost Lán-Aimseartha 2026 | Méadú | Ráta in aghaidh bainisteora 2025 | Ráta in aghaidh bainisteora 2026 |
| Ard | €27,600 | €28,860 | €1,260 | €37,500 | €37,900 |
| Meán | €24,930 | €26,090 | €1,160 | €35,000 | €35,400 |
| Íseal | €19,033 | €19,033 | Gan athrú | €32,000 | €32,400 |
An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta
Tugtar an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta ar an Roinn mhéadaithe anois.
Is é an tAire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, Dara Calleary TD, atá i gceannas ar an Roinn agus tacaíonn an tAire Stáit atá Freagrach as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, leis.
