Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, or SICAP, is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality.

SICAP workers have valuable experience and knowledge of supporting migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in their areas. I was happy to secure €10m in 2023 to continue supports to arrivals from the Ukraine and also to International Protection Applicants .

This funding supported approximately 88 Local Community Groups who focused on supporting the New Arrivals. Approximately 7,936 individuals were also supported by provision of translation services and English classes, transport services and labour market supports.

For 2024, I was delighted to once again secure €10m in funding for New Arrivals. The 2024 allocation has been revised to take account of changes and data revisions since the 2023 allocation. The revised model allocates funding based on the proportion of Ukrainian arrivals and IPAS Candidates in each SICAP Contract Area, using data provided by the Central Statistics Office and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY).

€9m of the €10m will be distributed quarterly to each SICAP Contract Area. €1m has been held as a contingency to enable my Department to respond to emerging issues throughout the year. I am particularly conscious of the potential for situations to rapidly evolve as the year progresses, and my officials will continue to engage with officials in DCEDIY, SICAP Programme Implementers and Local Community Development Committees to address any matters that may arise over the course of 2024 and to ensure that supports continue to be in place.

In addition my Departments administers the Community Recognition Fund which recognises the huge efforts made by communities going to great lengths in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Funding of €50 million for some 900 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries . My Department is currently looking at further ways to support communities in this regard.