Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Decisions on particular allocations for the community animation aspect of SICAP are rolled out to the local development companies. Based on the need presenting to them, they will decide what level of worker should be involved. It is the individual community worker who is engaged under SICAP. The programme is responsive in that sense. There is no set, defined allocation by central government as to what sum goes to community animation. All the local development companies have their particular allocations for the length of the programme and, within that, they respond and make decisions based on local needs.

On expenses for groups like community councils and so on, we generally have an annual process for allocations. Last year, it was done through the local enhancement programme, previously called the community enhancement programme. Again, allocations are given to the local authorities and the latter - in this case, the LCDCs - make the decisions about who gets the small grants. This is the most direct way for us to support small groups like that with their operating costs.

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