Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government his plans for community development in urban and rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18778/16]

Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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The successor programme to the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) was rolled out across communities, both urban and rural, in April 2015 and will run until 31 December 2017. The aim of the SICAP is to reduce poverty, and promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration. SICAP is a key priority of Government and its vision is to improve the life chances and opportunities of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or in unemployment, through community development approaches, targeted supports and interagency collaboration, where the values of equality and inclusion are promoted and human rights are respected. Community development is an integral part of SICAP and underpins the entire programme. There is a strong focus on community activation, social inclusion and community development, in addition to prioritisation of those most hard to reach in our communities. The SICAP budget for 2016 is €37.5 million. This includes an allocation of €3 million under the European Structural Funds (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

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

SICAP is delivered locally by programme implementers who operate a range of community schemes and programmes, and 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, including SICAP. 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 have been developed in each Local Authority area. These six year plans will look to coordinate the delivery of community supports within their area. The primary focus of my Department is to ensure that front-line services, particularly those focused on the needs of the most socially deprived communities, are protected. The Programme for Government includes provisions for the development of a new Community Development Scheme for rural areas as well as the reactivation of and increase in funding to RAPID. My Department will collaborate with other stakeholders including LCDCs and Local Authorities in addressing this commitment.

Insofar as rural areas are concerned, lead responsibility for rural development, including the LEADER programme, rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.