James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the constituency of Cork east will receive funding under the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme. [9273/23]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.

My Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current programme began on 1 January 2018 and will run until the end of 2023. 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.

SICAP is managed at a local level by 33 Local Community Development Committees, with support from local authorities. It is implemented nationally by 46 Local Development Companies across 51 Geographical areas (Lots).

I was delighted to secure an increase of €1.3 million under Budget 2023, increasing the annual funding from €43 million to €44.3 million. And additionally, €10 million is being provided under SICAP from Budget 2023 to allow Local Development Companies (LDCs) to continue to support arrivals from the Ukraine.

The constituency of Cork East extends over two SICAP Lot areas covered by Avondhu Blackwater Development and South and East Cork Area Development. These have been allocated funding to administer the SICAP Programme across their Lots and have been providing support under the current and previous SICAP programmes to eligible beneficiaries within the constituency of Cork East.