Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Offaly, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the implementation of the new SICAP programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51673/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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SICAP 2018 - 2022 is a €190m five year national programme that provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion. It is overseen by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and delivered locally by Local Development Companies with expertise in delivering social inclusion interventions.

The newly designed SICAP programme is a result of an independent national consultation process. It is more clearly defined than previous programmes and allows for greater flexibility and capacity to address local needs. The programme has to date exceeded its national targets, supporting 28,394 individuals and 2,253 community groups from a range of target groups including children and families, low income workers, long term unemployed, travellers, new communities, roma, and people living in disadvantaged communities.

As our economy continues to improve, It is vital that we continue to focus on the needs of those people at most risk of being left behind. My Department is continuously seeking to make improvements to the effectiveness of SICAP to enable us to do this. Along with Pobal, we have commenced the development of a Distance Travelled Tool, to measure personal progression of individuals availing of supports under SICAP as they move closer to employment or education.