Written answers

Tuesday, 2 May 2017

Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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411. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government if the investment of €37.5 million, as outlined in point 50 of the Action Plan for Rural Development, to implement the social inclusion and community activation programme is in addition to the funds previously committed by the Department of Social Protection to the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19742/17]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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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 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.

Responsibility for this programme rests with my Department. The SICAP programme delivery budget as approved in the Revised Estimates Volume for 2017 under Vote 34, Subhead D.4, 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.

SICAP is a separate and distinct programme which complements mainstream service provision through other Departments including, for example, some of the Department of Social Protection’s programmes.

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