Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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663. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide additional funding to the public participation networks to allow them to provide additional funds to community groups struggling to pay energy costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44651/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Public Participation Networks (PPNs) were established to provide representation for the community sector in Local Authority policymaking structures, giving local volunteers a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities.

PPNs are not grant-awarding bodies and are not permitted to give direct grants to community groups. They receive funding from the Department of Rural and Community Development and Local Authorities to resource their own core activities related to their functions; namely, local policy representation, building the capacity of volunteer-run groups to contribute to local policy, and providing information and networking opportunities to community groups. The funding is not intended for other purposes.

The €9m Community Activities Fund, which I launched in November 2021, allowed groups in disadvantaged areas to apply for funding for their running costs such as utility (Electricity, Heating charges) or insurance bills. Groups could also apply for funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment within their community. This scheme is part of the CEP and is administered by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). The Community Activities Fund is now closed to applicants. Details of successful projects from each LCDC will be available on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd.

It is hoped to run another CEP later in the year, however, details of this programme are not yet confirmed. I would advise the local groups to check www.gov.ie/drcd on a regular basis for updates and to also make contact with their LCDCs for further details on funding available locally.

Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent)
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664. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful applications for the level 3 outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme will be announced (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44921/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas.

Earlier this year, I launched the 2022 Scheme with a budget of €15 million to support outdoor recreation projects nationwide. The measures being funded under this year’s Scheme are:

- Measure 1: Small Scale Repair/Development/Promotion and Marketing (up to €30,000)

- Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity Development (up to €200,000)

-Measure 3: Strategic Large Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Strategic Trail/Amenity Development (up to €500,000)

-Project Development Measure: Development Costs for Strategic Large Scale Projects (up to €50,000).

Last month, I was delighted to announce funding of almost €6 million supporting 200 outdoor recreation projects under Measure 1 and the Project Development Measure.

I can confirm that an application has been submitted in respect of the specific project referred to by the Deputy under Measure 3 of the Scheme. I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement in the coming weeks on the successful projects under Measures 2 and 3 of the Scheme.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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665. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide additional funding for the social inclusion and activation programme for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44922/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current iteration began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. My officials have begun the process of developing a new iteration of SICAP which will begin in 2024. The programme 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 funding for SICAP is subject to the annual budgetary estimates process and I was delighted to have secured a 10% increase for SICAP for 2022, the largest increase since the programme was launched.

Earlier this year, an additional €5 million funding was announced to support the Local Development Companies, through SICAP, for the community response to support people arriving from Ukraine.

I recognise the vital work the programme does in helping so many individuals and groups, by improving the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed and I will continue to prioritise funding for SICAP within my Department’s overall voted expenditure.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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666. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department is reviewing the budget for the social inclusion and community activation programme; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the current budget is at 2008 levels; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44975/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current iteration began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. My Department has committed over €250 million funding to the six year national programme.

The funding for SICAP is subject to the annual budgetary estimates process. It should be noted that increases in the annual allocations have been achieved over the duration of the current programme and I was delighted to have secured a 10% increase for SICAP for 2022, the largest increase since the programme was launched. This year, over €43 million was allocated to the programme, supporting front line workers in Local Development Companies to deliver SICAP on the ground.

Earlier this year, an additional €5 million funding was announced to support the Local Development Companies, through SICAP, for the community response to support people arriving from Ukraine.

While funding for SICAP was reduced after 2008, it should be noted however that since then other social inclusion measures have been initiated and funded. I recognise the vital work that the programmedoes in helping so many individuals and groups, by improving the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed, and I will continue to prioritise funding for SICAP within my Department’s overall voted expenditure.