Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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34. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects and groups receiving funding under the social inclusion and community activation programme in 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50422/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local level through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

The current Programme which commenced in 2018 has supported over 43,000 individuals on a one to one basis and over 3,000 Local Community Groups in the period January 2018 to mid 2019.

SICAP is managed locally by 33 Local Community Development Committees with support from Local Authorities. Programme actions are delivered by Programme Implementers (PIs) across 51 Lot areas. SICAP is co-funded from the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020.

SICAP provides local organisations with capacity building supports in the main, however grants of up to €1,500 can be allocated to Local Community Groups and up to €2,500 to social enterprises each year. The purpose of the grant must be in line with the objectives of the programme and clearly linked to agreed outcomes.

Please see the table below for the number of beneficiaries that have received SICAP grants.  Please note that data for 2019 is still being recorded.