Preasráiteas: Seolann an tAire Jerry Buttimer Tuarascáil Bhliantúil Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail 2024
Media Release
Wednesday, 26 November 2025
Minister Jerry Buttimer launches the Community Services Programme 2024 Annual Report
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG), with special responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer TD, has today (Wednesday, 26 November 2025) announced the launch of the Community Services Programme 2024 Annual Report. This report highlights the significant achievements and progress made under the Programme during 2024, highlighting its impact on communities across the country.
The report includes a number of case studies on CSP supported organisations, showcasing their contributions to their communities. Through these diverse examples, the report captures the positive effect that CSP funding creates; supporting people, strengthening communities and building local resilience.
The Community Services Programme (CSP) aims to support local community organisations to deliver vital services by creating employment opportunities for specific disadvantaged individuals and to provide a diverse range of local services to disadvantaged communities and target groups, through a social enterprise model.
The Programme focuses on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical or social isolation or because of demand deficits. The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each manager and/or full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported.
The strategic objectives of the CSP Programme are:
- To address community needs through supporting services and community assets, ensuring they are inclusive and responsive to the disadvantaged or marginalised;
- To provide employment opportunities and improve the employability of individuals most distant from the labour market; and
- To strengthen and support community organisations operating as social enterprises to deliver improved facilities and services.
In 2024, the CSP Programme supported 451 services through 431 organisations through 1,727 FTE positions and 352 manager positions.
Across these organisations;
- 3,302 individuals were employed in CSP roles.
- 64% of CSP-supported employees were in part-time employment compared to 36% in full-time.
Key highlights from the report include:
- Increased Employment opportunities: A CSP funding call for new applicants to the Programme was announced in 2023. Following on from this call, 14 new organisations were welcomed on to the Programme, commencing in January 2024 with 13 managers and 23 FTE positions being supported.
- Funding for Additional Resources: Following an application process in September 2023, 32 existing CSP-supported organisations were allocated additional staff resources from June 2024. The 42 new CSP-supported positions consisted of 35 FTE and seven manager positions.
- Increased Funding Rates: To ensure the continued sustainability of CSP-supported organisations, the rates of funding awarded to CSP FTE and manager positions, across both the high and medium funding categories, were increased from January 2024.
Future of CSP Programme
An allocation of €55.4m was made available in Budget 2025 to support the CSP Programme for 2025, an increase of €3m from 2024. A further increase of €4m has been announced for 2026, bringing the total programme allocation to €59.4m for 2026.
Under the 2025 Programme for Government, a commitment was made to open the Community Services Programme for new applications annually. The scope to hold an open call for the CSP Programme is currently being reviewed, in the context of the 2026 Budget announcement, having regard to the funding needs of existing organisations and those who wish to join the programme.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Buttimer said:
“This report reflects the impact the Community Services Programme has on communities the length and breadth of the country. It highlights the real and lasting difference the CSP Programme makes by providing services and employment locally, which in turn contributes to building sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities.”
Anna Shakespeare, Pobal CEO, commented:
“The Community Services Programme enables the continuation and growth of important and valuable services provided by community organisations and social enterprises nationwide. CSP supported services are diverse in the range of activities they provide, the sectors in which they operate, and the communities or groups they support. The success of the programme and recent redesigns to ensure it is responsive and reflective of social and economic factors, particularly area level deprivation is evident in the 2024 Annual Report. Pobal is proud to administer the Community Services Programme on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community and Development and to work alongside the 431 funded organisations, who support the most vulnerable in our local communities by providing essential services, community spaces, employment and training opportunities.”
The Minister concluded:
“Despite the many social and economic challenges experienced in 2024 as highlighted in the Annual Report, CSP-supported organisations have continued to play an essential role in strengthening the communities they serve, providing vital services and safe welcoming spaces to ensure people and communities around the country receive the supports they need.”
Preasráiteas
Dé Céadaoin, an 26 Samhain 2025
Seolann an tAire Jerry Buttimer Tuarascáil Bhliantúil Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail 2024
Inniu, (Dé Céadaoin, an 26 Samhain 2025) d’fhógair an tAire Stáit sa Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus Gaeltachta, a bhfuil freagracht speisialta air as Forbairt Pobail agus Carthanachtaí, Jerry Buttimer TD, seoladh Thuarascáil Bhliantúil Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail 2024. Sa tuarascáil seo, leagtar béim ar na héachtaí suntasacha agus an dul chun cinn a rinneadh faoin gClár le linn 2024, ag léiriú a thionchair ar phobail ar fud na tíre.
Cuimsítear sa tuarascáil roinnt cás-staidéar ar eagraíochtaí a fhaigheann tacaíocht ó Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail, ag taispeáint na mbealaí a chuireann siad le pobail. Trí na samplaí éagsúla seo sa tuarascáil, léirítear an éifeacht dhearfach a chruthaíonn maoiniú an Chláir; ag tacú le daoine, ag neartú pobal agus ag tógáil acmhainneachta áitiúla.
Tá sé mar aidhm ag Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail (CSP) tacú le heagraíochtaí pobail áitiúla chun seirbhísí ríthábhachtacha a sholáthar trí dheiseanna fostaíochta a chruthú do dhaoine aonair faoi mhíbhuntáiste agus raon éagsúil seirbhísí áitiúla a sholáthar do phobail agus do ghrúpaí spriocdhírithe faoi mhíbhuntáiste, trí mhúnla fiontair shóisialta.
Dírítear sa Chlár ar phobail ina bhfuil easpa seirbhísí san earnáil phoiblí agus phríobháideach, bíodh sé sin de bharr iargúltachta geografaí nó sóisialta nó mar gheall ar easnaimh éilimh. Soláthraítear sa Chlár ranníocaíocht chómhaoinithe bhliantúil i leith gach post bainisteora agus/nó coibhéise lánaimseartha atá á thacú.
Is iad cuspóirí straitéiseacha an Chláir ná:
- Aghaidh a thabhairt ar riachtanais an phobail trí sheirbhísí agus sócmhainní pobail a thacú, ag cinntiú go bhfuil siad cuimsitheach agus freagrúil do dhaoine faoi mhíbhuntáiste nó imeallaithe;
- Deiseanna fostaíochta a sholáthar agus infhostaitheacht na ndaoine is faide ón margadh saothair a fheabhsú; agus
- Eagraíochtaí pobail atá ag feidhmiú mar fhiontair shóisialta a neartú agus a thacú chun áiseanna agus seirbhísí feabhsaithe a sholáthar.
In 2024, tacaíodh le 451 seirbhís trí 431 eagraíocht trí 1,727 bpost coibhéise lánaimseartha agus 352 post bainisteora sa Chlár.
Ar fud na n-eagraíochtaí seo;
- Fostaítear 3,302 duine i róil Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail.
- 64% d’fhostaithe a bhfuil tacaíocht CSP acu i bhfostaíocht pháirtaimseartha i gcomparáid le 36% lánaimseartha.
I measc na bpríomhphointí a dhéantar sa tuarascáil, tá:
- Méadú Deiseanna Fostaíochta: Fógraíodh glao maoinithe CSP d’iarratasóirí nua ar an gClár in 2023. Ag leanúint ar aghaidh ón nglao seo, cuireadh fáilte roimh 14 eagraíocht nua chuig an gClár, ag tosú i mí Eanáir 2024 agus 13 bhainisteoir agus 23 phost coibhéise lánaimseartha á dtacú.
- Maoiniú d’Acmhainní Breise: Tar éis próiseas iarratais i Meán Fómhair 2023, leithdháileadh acmhainní foirne breise ar 32 eagraíocht atá ann cheana féin a raibh tacaíocht CSP acu ó Mheitheamh 2024. Bhí 35 post cóibhéise lánaimseratha agus seacht bpost bainisteora sna 42 post nua a raibh tacaíocht CSP acu.
- Méadú Rátaí Maoinithe: Chun inbhuanaitheacht leanúnach na n-eagraíochtaí a raibh tacaíocht CSP acu a chinntiú, méadaíodh na rátaí maoinithe a bronnadh ar phoist cóibhéise lánaimseartha agus bainisteoirí CSP, trasna na gcatagóirí maoinithe ard agus meánmhéide araon, ó Eanáir 2024.
Todhchaí Chlár na Seirbhísí Pobail
Cuireadh leithdháileadh €55.4m ar fáil i mBuiséad 2025 chun tacú leis an gClár do 2025, méadú €3m ó 2024. Fógraíodh méadú breise €4m do 2026, rud a thugann leithdháileadh iomlán an Chláir go €59.4m do 2026.
Faoi chlár 2025 an Rialtais, tugtar gealltanas Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail a oscailt d’iarratais nua gach bliain. Tá an raon feidhme chun glao oscailte a reáchtáil don Chlár á athbhreithniú faoi láthair, i gcomhthéacs fhógra Bhuiséad 2026, agus aird á tabhairt ar riachtanais mhaoinithe na n-eagraíochtaí atá ann cheana féin agus na ndaoine ar mhian leo páirt a ghlacadh sa chlár.
Ag labhairt ag an seoladh, dúirt an tAire Buttimer:
“Léirítear an tionchar atá ag Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail ar phobail ar fud na tíre sa tuarascáil seo. Léirítear an difríocht fhíor agus bhuan a dhéanann Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail inti trí sheirbhísí agus fostaíocht a sholáthar go háitiúil, rud a chuireann le pobail inbhuanaithe, chuimsitheacha agus chumhachtaithe a thógáil.”
Dúirt Anna Shakespeare, POF Pobal:
“I gClár na Seirbhísí Pobail cumasaítear leanúint agus fás seirbhísí tábhachtacha agus luachmhara arna soláthar ag eagraíochtaí pobail agus fiontair shóisialta ar fud na tíre. Tá seirbhísí a fhaigheann tacaíocht ón gClár éagsúil ó thaobh raon na ngníomhaíochtaí a sholáthraíonn siad, na hearnálacha ina bhfeidhmíonn siad, agus na pobail nó na grúpaí a dtacaíonn siad leo. Tá rath an chláir agus athdhearthaí le déanaí soiléir i dTuarascáil Bhliantúil 2024 chun a chinntiú go bhfuil an clár freagrúil agus go léirítear ann tosca sóisialta agus eacnamaíocha, go háirithe díothacht ar leibhéal na gceantar. Tá Pobal bródúil as Clár na Seirbhísí Pobail a riaradh thar ceann an Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail agus oibriú taobh leis na 431 eagraíocht a mhaoinítear, a thacaíonn leis na daoine is leochailí inár bpobail áitiúla trí sheirbhísí riachtanacha, spásanna pobail, deiseanna fostaíochta agus oiliúna a sholáthar.”
Mar fhocal scoir, dúirt an tAire:
“In ainneoin na ndúshlán sóisialta agus eacnamaíocha iomadúla a bhí againn in 2024 mar a léirítear sa Tuarascáil Bhliantúil, lean eagraíochtaí a fhaigheann tacaíocht ó CSP orthu ag imirt ról ríthábhachtach i neartú na bpobal a bhfreastalaíonn siad orthu, ag soláthar seirbhísí ríthábhachtacha agus spásanna fáilteacha sábháilte chun a chinntiú go bhfaigheann daoine agus pobail ar fud na tíre na tacaíochtaí a theastaíonn uathu.”