Call for applications under Community Services Programme (CSP)
Programme benefits groups providing services and creating employment for disadvantaged
Workshops to assist organisations applying for scheme

Minister for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD has today, (Monday, 6th March 2023) announced a new Call for Applications under the Community Services Programme (CSP). The CSP currently supports over 420 community-based organisations.

Announcing the new call at Recycle IT in Clondalkin today, the Minister said:

“I am delighted to launch a new Call for Applications under the Community Services Programme. The purpose of this funding is to support social enterprises and community/voluntary organisations with an additional strand focusing on circular economy projects that are either Traveller led or ones that will primarily employ members of the Traveller community.”

Funding of €1 million will be available for this new call in 2023 which will provide new organisations with an opportunity to access support to employ additional staff in line with the programme’s re-defined sub-programmes and new vision, which were approved in 2022.

Pre-application support workshops will be rolled out to ensure organisations are fully equipped with the information that they need to apply for this funding. As a first step, an Information Event will be held for organisations interested in applying for the programme on week beginning 20th March 2023. Details will be shared on the Pobal CSP webpage and on the Department of Rural and Community Development social media channels. Organisations that wish to be notified about the workshops can also contact .  

Following the pre-application supports, organisations will be invited to submit a short concept note to Pobal outlining their proposal for assessment against the objectives of the call and organisations will then be informed whether their proposal fits with the call.

The Minister continued:

“The CSP supports a 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 broadening the range of services available and bringing new organisations onto the programme.

“I am delighted to say that we will also have a range of support workshops to assist those organisations in applying to the CSP Programme.”

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model, creating employment opportunities for specific disadvantaged groups and individuals, such as people with disabilities, Travellers, recovering drug misusers, ex-prisoners and long term unemployed.

The purpose of this funding is to support social enterprises and community/voluntary organisations that:

Are addressing a local priority and evidenced need, particularly for those most disadvantaged in their community
Are delivering tangible and practical benefits for those most disadvantaged in their community
Are moving towards a sustainable social enterprise business model through trading.

Applications will be accepted from all organisations under two strands:

Strand 1:

Organisations operating in the circular economy which are owned and led by traveller organisations and/or provide employment primarily to members of the traveller community.

Strand 2:

Demonstrate their proposal meets one or more of the CSP strategic objectives and the horizontal principles of the programme.

The CSP contribution is not aligned to the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts, rather it is a fixed annual contribution towards the salary costs of managers and employees in supported organisations. The CSP contribution must be co-funded by the organisation concerned from other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities and services.

As part of the restructuring process, a new funding rate allocation model for the CSP has been introduced from January 2023, as an alternative to the previous flat rate payment model. CSP organisations that are operating in areas of high disadvantage, employing individuals from the prescribed programme target groups and having limited earning potential will benefit from the higher funding rate category.

A total increase of €4,000 for both full time positions and managers has been provided for those organisations in the high funding category, with €2,000 per full-time position and manager provided to those in the medium funding category.

No change is proposed for the small number of organisations in the low funding category, these are organisations identified with the strongest earning potential and operating in less disadvantaged areas.

The strategic objectives of the 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

Minister for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien TD has today, (Monday, 6th March 2023) announced a new Call for Applications under the Community Services Programme (CSP). The CSP currently supports over 420 community-based organisations.

Announcing the new call at Recycle IT in Clondalkin today, the Minister said:

“I am delighted to launch a new Call for Applications under the Community Services Programme. The purpose of this funding is to support social enterprises and community/voluntary organisations with an additional strand focusing on circular economy projects that are either Traveller led or ones that will primarily employ members of the Traveller community.”

Funding of €1 million will be available for this new call in 2023 which will provide new organisations with an opportunity to access support to employ additional staff in line with the programme’s re-defined sub-programmes and new vision, which were approved in 2022.

Pre-application support workshops will be rolled out to ensure organisations are fully equipped with the information that they need to apply for this funding. As a first step, an Information Event will be held for organisations interested in applying for the programme on week beginning 20th March 2023. Details will be shared on the Pobal CSP webpage and on the Department of Rural and Community Development social media channels. Organisations that wish to be notified about the workshops can also contact . …More information

“Is mian liom an deis a thapú chun gach rath a ghuí ar lucht eagraithe Sheachtain na Gaeilge agus tús á chur againn leis an gceiliúradh bliantúil agus tábhachtach seo ar ár dteanga agus ár gcultúr dúchais.

Ó bunaíodh é in 1902, tá an fhéile ag dul i neart agus ag leathnú thar na blianta, agus anois tá sé ar an gceiliúradh is mó ar an teanga Ghaeilge ar domhan.

Cuireann Seachtain na Gaeilge an deis ar fáil dúinn teacht le chéile agus áilleacht agus saibhreas ár dteanga a cheiliúradh, agus an deis do chainteoirí dúchais, d’fhoghlaimeoirí agus dóibh siúd a bhfuil cúpla focal acu, dul i dteagmháil agus ceangal a dhéanamh le níos mó na milliún duine a ghlacann páirt gach bliain sna himeachtaí pobaleagraithe tiomnaithe ar fud na hÉireann agus trasna an domhain.

Is cuid ríthábhachtach dár bhféiniúlacht náisiúnta agus léiriú ar an teacht aniar inár muintir atá inár dteanga ársa, atá lán den stair agus den traidisiún. 

Maidir leis an nGaeilge atá mar oidhreacht dúinn uilig, is teanga álainn í atá doimhneacht agus fadsaolach. Ní hamháin gur taisce chultúrtha atá inti ach acmhainn luachmhar don todhchaí. Is gné an-tábhachtach atá inti chun shamhlaíocht agus chruthaíocht ár sinsir a nochtadh, agus í ina foinse inspioráide do na glúnta filí, scríbhneoirí agus ealaíontóirí, agus deis ríthábhachtach chun ár dtraidisiúin agus ár stair a chaomhnú do na glúnta atá le teacht.

I saol an lae inniu tugann an teanga le chéile muid agus soláthraíonn sí ceangal domhain cultúrtha dúinn le nasc a dhéanamh lenár n-oidhreacht agus ár stair, ach, níos tábhachtaí fós, comhluadar na teangan atá ag leathnú i measc na ndaoine óga. Is mar thoradh orthu siúd go léir atá tar éis tacú lena húsáid agus í a spreagadh, cé acu a rinne siad sin sa bhaile, ar scoil, ag an obair nó trí na healaíona cruthaitheacha, ní hamháin go bhfuil sí tagtha slán ach go bhfuil sí faoi rath , agus ag leathnú in úsáid.

Ní hamháin go bhfuil pobal bríomhar ina mílte duine againn atá ag fás go leanúnach agus a labhraíonn an teanga gach lá, ach is ábhar sásaimh dom a aithint go bhfuil os cionn milliún duine ar fud an domhain atá ag foghlaim na Gaeilge go gníomhach ar líne, lena n-áirítear go leor nach náisiúnaigh de chuid na hÉireann iad, chomh maith le saoránaigh Éireannacha nua, a ghlacann chucu féin an deis chun theanga dhúchais na háite a dtugann siad an baile uirthi anois a nochtadh.

Agus ár dteanga iontach á ceiliúradh againn le linn Sheachtain na Gaeilge, cuirimis a dhá oiread fuinnimh inár n-iarrachtaí í a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn, agus tacaímis le hiarrachtaí na ndaoine sin atá ag obair chun cuidiú léi forbairt agus a bheith ábhartha fós inár saol nua-aoiseach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go mbeidh ár dteanga Ghaeilge, ár litríocht, ár gcultúr agus ár n-oidhreacht ina thaisce as a bhfaighimid bród agus aoibhneas.

Is féidir linn uile páirt a ghlacadh lena chéile chun a chinntiú go leanfar leis an nGaeilge a cheiliúradh mar chuid ríthábhachtach dár bhféiniúlacht náisiúnta i measc na nÉireannach go léir sna glúnta amach romhainn, teanga a bheidh ionchuimsitheach go fírinneach, a mbeidh sé de cheart ag daoine de gach aois teacht uirthi faoi gach cúinse, rud a spreagfaidh a húsáid go forleathan i ngnáthshaol na ndaoine ar fud an oileáin seo.

Guím gach rath oraibh agus tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh sult as Seachtain na Gaeilge. 

Beir beannacht.”

Seachtain na Gaeilge Message from President Michael D. Higgins

“May I take the opportunity to wish all the organisers of Seachtain na Gaeilge the very best as we begin this wonderful and important annual celebration of our native language and culture.

Since it was first established in 1902, the festival has grown in strength and scope over the years, and now stands as the largest celebration of Irish language in the world.

Seachtain na Gaeilge provides us with the opportunity to gather together and celebrate the beauty and richness of our language, offering an opportunity for native speakers, learners and those with a cúpla focal to engage and interconnect with over one million people annually who partake in the many community-organised events dedicated all over Ireland and across the globe.

Our ancient language, steeped in history and tradition, is a critical part of our national identity and a testament to the resilience of our people. A language of beauty, depth and longevity, it is not just a cultural treasure, but also a valuable resource for the future. It is key to unlocking the wisdom of our ancestors, being a source of inspiration for generations of poets, writers and artists, and a vital tool for preserving our traditions and history for future generations.

The language brings us together, providing us with a profound cultural connection that enables us to relate to our heritage and history. That it has not only survived, but most important of all, that it is in daily use, continuing to flourish and increase influence today, both in Ireland and abroad, is a testament to all those who have championed and encouraged its use, whether at home, in school, at work or through the creative arts.

Not only do we possess a vibrant and growing community who speak the language in their thousands every day, but it also gives me great pleasure to recognise that over a million people around the world are actively learning Irish online, including many non-Irish nationals and new Irish citizens, embracing the opportunity to uncover the native language of the place that they now call home.

As we celebrate our great language during Seachtain na Gaeilge, let us redouble our efforts to protect and promote it, and support the endeavours of those who are working to enable it to develop and remain relevant in our modern world. It is vital that our Irish language, our literature, our culture and heritage becomes a treasure from which we draw great pride and joy.

Together, we can all play a role to ensure that the Irish language will continue to be celebrated as a vital part of our national identity for all Irish people for generations to come, a truly inclusive language of which people in all circumstances and of all ages are entitled to access, encouraging its ever more prevalent use in the everyday lives of the people across this island.

May I wish you all an enjoyable Seachtain na Gaeilge.

Beir beannacht.”