Ms Adeline O'Brien:

The SICAP budget is currently 50% of what it was in 2008. The current budget is €43 million, a fall from €84.7 million in 2008. Those who are already disadvantaged are likely to be more so due to crises in health, the economy, education and employment, such as Covid-19. This is compounded by poorer access to information technology and digital and online services. As we move into the recovery phase, digitalisation and the remote delivery of services will become mainstream across society, thus causing further disadvantage to groups with poor access to, and experience of, digital channels.

To protect vulnerable groups, typically SICAP target groups, the ILDN proposes a digital inclusion fund, to be administered by local development companies in conjunction with SICAP. This is in keeping with the European Commission recommendation that Ireland address the risk of a digital divide. While specific funding is required for the digital inclusion fund, the initiative will benefit from existing integrated services and facilities throughout the local development network. Further investment in SICAP is also important in the context of the implementation of the Government's White Paper on ending direct provision.

In terms of a sustainable local development sector, ILDN is seeking the introduction of a core cost funding model as a more sustainable and equitable approach to supporting the inclusion-focused and anti-poverty work of local development companies country-wide. This model is based on a full costs recovery system in line with objective No. 4 of the Government’s sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities strategy. I thank the members for their attention.