Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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1406. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will investigate the potential economic benefits of the community development programme, which provides local action groups with access to funding from EU social and regional funding; if he will urgently make submission to the EU for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30913/15]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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1408. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will investigate the potential economic benefits of the community development LED local development programme, which provides local action groups with access to funding from EU social and regional funding; if he will urgently make a submission to the EU for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30919/15]

Ann Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1406 and 1408 together.

I assume the Question is referring to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which was rolled out across communities on 1 April 2015. The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration.

The programme’s target groups are children and families from disadvantaged areas, lone parents, new communities (including refugees and asylum seekers), people living in disadvantaged communities, people with disabilities, Roma, the unemployed (including those not on the Live Register), travellers, young unemployed people from disadvantaged areas and young people (aged 15-24) who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

SICAP is one of my Department’s key priorities and is operating for a 9 month period for 2015, with funding of €28 million. This includes an allocation of €2 million under the European Structural Funds (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 and €2 million under the Youth Employment Initiative.

The objective of the SICAP activities proposed for ESF funding is to support young people who are at a higher risk of social exclusion with a particular focus on those from disadvantaged communities and from target groups that have been prioritised as experiencing higher risk of social exclusion, to improve work readiness and access to employment including through the provision of educational supports.

SICAP is being overseen and managed by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area. Each LCDC is mandated with bringing a more joined-up and coherent approach to the local management of public-funded programmes in the areas of economic, social and community development. The primary means through which this will be achieved will be the development and implementation of the community elements of the Local Economic and Community Plans, which are currently being developed in each Local Authority (LA) area. These plans will look to coordinate the delivery of community supports within their area.

During 2015, some 4,000 young unemployed people nationally will be supported through a range of defined activities under the programme, including training, job preparation/job search, work placements and mentoring.