Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting rural and urban communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.

The procurement process for SICAP 2024-2028 is currently ongoing. Galway County Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), the Contracting Authority for the delivery of SICAP in County Galway, are currently evaluating the tenders received for the 3 Contract Areas; Galway East, Galway West and Galway Islands.

Due to unforeseen delays in the procurement process, Galway County LCDC in consultation with my Department Officials have issued a broadcast via the eTenders system to all tenderers in Galway County, advising that the current SICAP Contract will be extended for a period of three months to the end of March 2024, to allow time for the new SICAP contract to be put in place.

This ensures that a fair, transparent and robust process is implemented in the awarding of the new contracts whilst also ensuring the vital work the programme does in supporting those most disadvantaged and marginalised in society is continued in County Galway.

My main priority is to ensure the continuation of SICAP service delivery while the new SICAP 2024 - 2028 tender evaluation process is concluding and new contracts are put in place.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals.

The procurement process for the next iteration of SICAP 2024-2028 is currently ongoing. The SICAP procurement process is run on a national basis managed by Local Authorities/Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). Formal requests for tender for the relevant 53 individual contract areas (lots) were published by the 33 LCDCs on eTenders on Monday 17^thJuly.

As the deliberative process is still ongoing in a number of areas, I am unable to address all the questions raised by the Deputy. However, I can confirm that the evaluation process is well underway, with varying levels of progress across areas. Final evaluations have completed in the majority of contract areas with evaluations ongoing in other areas.

Due to unforeseen delays in the procurement process, LCDCs in Galway County and in Meath, following consultation with my Department Officials, have issued a broadcast via the eTenders system to all tenderers in their areas, advising that the current SICAP Contract in those areas will be extended for a period of three months to the end of March 2024, to allow time for the new SICAP contracts to be put in place.

This ensures that a fair, transparent and robust process is implemented in the awarding of the new contracts, whilst also ensuring the vital work the programme does in supporting those most disadvantaged and marginalised in society, is continued.