Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme that aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals.

I believe SICAP is a hugely important programme and was delighted to secure a 10% increase for SICAP for 2022, the largest increase since the programme was launched. For 2023 I secured a further increase of €1.3m. This represents a total increase of €5.3 million for the programme increasing its annual funding allocation to €44.4m.

The arrival of Ukrainians to communities across Ireland has had a significant impact on the demands on SICAP and SICAP workers have been to the forefront of local responses in this context. To assist in the community response to support people arriving from Ukraine, an additional €5 million funding was announced in 2022 to support the Local Development Companies, through SICAP. An further €10 million is also being provided under SICAP in 2023 to allow Local Development Companies to continue their work to support arrivals from Ukraine.

I recognise the vital work SICAP does in helping so many individuals by improving the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed.

Funding for SICAP is subject to the annual budgetary process. I can assure the Deputy that I review the level of funding for all programmes each year as part of the budgetary process and it remains my intention to continue to prioritise funding for SICAP.