The France Services spaces, where users can get help with certain administrative procedures, contribute to reducing “territorial divides”, underlines the Court of Auditors in a report published this Wednesday, September 4, which calls for a targeted increase in their funding.
Five years after the launch of the program in response to the yellow vest crisis, the France Services network has “more than 2,840 spaces” spread across the territory. Social housing applications, registration with France Travail, income declarations… Nearly nine million procedures were carried out in France Services spaces in 2023, a number that has increased sharply compared to the million or so procedures carried out in 2020. “User satisfaction exceeds 90%”, indicates the Court, which highlights the “extensive” public service offering of France Services spaces and a quality of care that is “consistent across the territory”.
The France Services network “unquestionably contributes to reducing territorial divides”, add the financial magistrates, who nevertheless call on the programme’s leaders (National Agency for Territorial Cohesion, government, public service operators) to “clarify its strategic orientations for the future”. The Court thus considers it necessary to better take into account the “specificities” of the territory in which a France Services space is established, and to “perfect (the) reputation” of the network, which still relies largely on word of mouth.
In his response to the Court, the resigning Prime Minister Gabriel Attal highlights the “national and local communication campaigns” deployed by the government, as well as the “France Services days” or the “France Services buses”, which go to meet the most isolated users rather than waiting for them to visit. He also insists on the ambition of the outgoing government to reach 3,000 France Services spaces “by 2027”.
350 million euros budget for 2024
In terms of budget, the cost of the France Services program is estimated by the Court of Auditors at “around 350 million euros” for 2024, including 113 million included in the general State budget. The latter has committed to increasing its subsidy to each France Services space from 35,000 euros in 2023 to 50,000 euros in 2026. But this State funding “does not take into account the saturation situations of certain spaces”, notes the Court. “An additional flat-rate subsidy appears necessary” for France Services spaces that carry out more than three user support sessions per hour and per agent, recommend the financial magistrates.
In terms of human resources, the Court advocates for better promotion of the specificities of the France Services advisor profession in the career path of these agents. The functions of advisor require “technical mastery, initiative and interpersonal skills, in the face of sometimes complex situations”, it insists. In his response, the Prime Minister assures that he has “doubled the duration” of the initial and continuing training of advisors. One million euros has also been invested “to secure the premises of France Services and therefore their advisors”, adds Matignon.