John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the progress towards the establishment of an urban communities initiative to revitalise disadvantaged city areas, as per the Programme for Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14572/25]

Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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124. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the launch of the urban communities initiative to revitalise disadvantaged city areas, as committed to in the Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14515/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 124 together.

My Department is responsible for a range of initiatives tackling deprivation and revitalising communities in both rural and urban areas. Key programmes include the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Empowering Communities Programme and providing funding for the Dublin North East Inner City initiative. My Department is making significant progress in revitalising communities through the ongoing work of these programmes and is well placed to play its part in the development of new initiatives for our urban communities, both in Dublin and elsewhere.

The commitment in the Programme for Government regarding an Urban Communities Initiative is included in the section on Rejuvenating our Capital City Centre, which also refers to the Dublin North East Inner City initiative. However, I know that other urban areas outside Dublin city would also be suitable for such an initiative. My Department is currently examining ways in which this commitment could be delivered in the context of our role in community development in urban areas.

SICAP is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention - a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies, helping those in the greatest need to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, locally-led approaches. €48.9m in funding has been allocated for SICAP delivery in 2025. The programme encourages partnerships between individuals, community organisations, and public sector agencies to address diverse community needs.

My Department's Empowering Communities Programme was developed in line with Government commitments to expand the Dublin North East Inner City approach to other areas. It focusses on smaller areas experiencing significant disadvantage, identified using the Pobal HP Deprivation Index. Commencing in 2022, 17 projects are supported under the Empowering Communities Programme, with annual funding totalling €2.3 million. Additional funding of €1 million is available for an expansion of the programme in 2025.