Written answers
Wednesday, 12 October 2022
Department of Rural and Community Development
Ukraine War
Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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229. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role that her Department has played in the integration of Ukrainian refugees into communities; if her Department and any agencies under her remit have had an involvement at local or national level in the response; the further steps that her Department intends taking to ensure that services are provided to assist with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50521/22]
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department has responsibility for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 that 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 programme is implemented nationally by 46 Local Development Companies (LDCs).
Since the start of this crisis, flexibility has being offered by my Department in relation to SICAP so that its some 600 community development workers can contribute locally in responding to the needs of the people from Ukraine to help them settle and engage with local communities.
€10.5 million was announced by my Department earlier this year for the community response to support people arriving from Ukraine. €5 million funding was allocated to SICAP in recognition of the ongoing contribution being made by the programme, this additional funding ensures that normal SICAP service delivery can be maintained and the on-the-ground response and services for the people arriving from Ukraine. A further €5 million was allocated for the "Ireland for Ukraine Fund" which is being administered by Community Foundation Ireland. Also funding of €0.5 million was announced for volunteer centres to deal with increased activity and demands on these centres and on the volunteers helping to deal with this crisis.
Some services that are available through SICAP to support Ukrainians include transport services; access to health care; access to school places; services to older people; Ukrainian community engagement; personal skills and wellbeing, lifelong learning and access to the labour market. Some of these supports are delivered on a one-to-one basis and in a group setting.
My Department will continue to monitor the situation and keep it under review, and additional funding will be provided to SICAP in 2023 to deal specifically with new arrivals from Ukraine.
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