Minister makes major community funding announcement during trip to Leitrim
Deputy Jerry Buttimer announces CSP support for Ballinamore venue during visit to Leitrim
Jerry Buttimer, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, was at the Island Theatre in Ballinamore earlier this morning to announce the details of the Community Services Programme (CSP) for 2026.
€55.4 million in funding was announced to support the employment of staff at community organisations across the country from January 2026.
The Island Theatre is one of 426 organisations that the programme will support next year. The support is aimed at covering part of the salaries of two staff members and one managerial position within an organisation, with the remainder being made up by the organisation itself.
The programme has seen nine new organisations enter this year. Previously, the Island Theatre, which was renovated in 2022 with community-raised funds, met the criteria for the programme, but insufficient funding meant it could not be included.
In 2025, the programme supported 351 managers and 1,721 staff positions. The monetary value of the funding varies between organisations, but is approximately €80,000, according to the Minister.
“It is very important for us to have a Community Services Programme,” he said, highlighting the importance to the local communities who are receiving the funding. “They don’t have to worry about those menial or manual tasks, as there is someone driving the programme, reaching out to the community and beyond, and ensuring in this case that seats are filled, work is being done and that voluntary effort is being supported,” he said.
“It’s about generations seeing that you don’t have to leave Ballinamore or rural Ireland - that your own small community can deliver,” he added.