Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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1004. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development what initiatives are being taken to focus on areas of high disadvantage (such as Balgaddy in Dublin), including leading inter-departmental and inter-agency approaches. [7784/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The main programmes in my Department focusing on areas of high disadvantage are the Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) and the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP).

The ECP commenced in 2022, providing funding for 14 projects. At present there are 17 projects supported under the programme, with annual funding of €2.3 million. One of these projects is in the Clondalkin-Moorfield Electoral Division (Small Geographic Area) covering Balgaddy, Quarryvale and Rowlagh in the South County Dublin Council area.

Funding of €110,000 is allocated to South Dublin County Partnership LDC through South Dublin County LCDC for the delivery of the programme in that area.

The areas selected for funding under the ECP are ones that are experiencing significant disadvantage identified using the Pobal HP deprivation index. The programme, with the support of the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), aims to enhance community access to key services and empower local communities to develop their own response to area-based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences.

Community Engagement Workers funded under the ECP engage with the supported community and reinforce community development values and principles. They assist the community to take ownership of, and address the issues that are most important to them and facilitate and create positive change. They have organised events with the community that include, inter alia, targeted outreach and drop-ins, wellbeing days, intercultural activities and celebrations, English language classes, community Clean-up and Planting activities.

In essence, the ECP supports disadvantaged communities to develop bespoke responses to existing and emerging needs that impact on the quality of life of the people in the ECP areas. Feedback to date from beneficiaries in ECP supported communities has been positive.

Under Budget 2025, additional funding of €1 million has been secured for the ECP with a view to further expanding the Programme. Consideration is currently being given to how this additional funding can be utilised to maximum effect for communities that are experiencing significant disadvantage.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. It targets and supports those who are disadvantaged in Irish society and less likely to use mainstream services.

SICAP has 2 programme goals. Goal one is supporting communities, which involves supporting local community groups representing disadvantaged communities and target groups so that they can work towards solving social exclusion issues that affect them. Goal two involves supporting individuals who have been identified as being in need to improve their life chances. This can be through lifelong learning and training, getting labour market supports to improve work readiness, or working with people in broader and more holistic ways so that they can improve their quality of life and general well-being.

In the social inclusion and community development context, my Department also has significant input across a wide range of inter-departmental strategies and working groups focused on tackling deprivation and empowering communities to lead out on addressing the challenges they face locally. Some key examples of inter-departmental strategic commitments under SICAP, ECP and other initiatives include objectives under the National Traveller and Roma Integration Strategy, the Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities 5-year Strategy, the National Drugs Strategy, Youth Justice Strategy, the Food Poverty Working Group and the Cross-Government Network on Child Poverty and Wellbeing, to name but a few.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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1005. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an announcement will be made regarding category 2 of the Community Centres Investment Fund. [8119/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In June last year, a new round of funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.

In November, just over €7.6 million was approved for almost 400 community centres under category 1 of the fund. Category 1 refers to projects seeking funding of up tp €25,000.

The selection process in respect of all applications under category 2, which are projects seeking funding of up to €100,000, is currently being finalised. I expect to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.