Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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2640. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the merits of supporting projects at a local authority level that would create cookery classes and cookbooks designed to include food from the countries of those in IPAS accommodation to further allow for community integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21062/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department works extensively with Local Authorities across Ireland through a wide array of programmes and initiatives, primarily through the Local Community Development Committees hosted within each Local Authority.

The most significant intervention in terms of integration and inclusivity supports is the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Ireland’s primary social inclusion initiative, with €48.9 million in core funding allocated for 2025 and a further €10 million allocated for delivery of SICAP supports to new arrivals.

SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration. The programme is managed at local level through the 33 Local Community Development Committees and implemented by Local Development Companies.

The programme features 12 core Target Groups for service delivery and supports, including Refugees and International Protection applicants, (including those living in direct provision). People in these Target Groups are more likely to face additional challenges in life such as language barriers, lack of accommodation, low paid work, living in poverty, and barriers to integration into Irish society, thereby facing a higher risk of social disadvantage and exclusion.

Initiatives such as cookery classes and intercultural events are already regular features of SICAP’s work across the country, with some examples including; South Dublin County Partnership’s Community Kitchen project, which aims to establish a collaborative space within Mountain Park for family representatives residing in Direct Provision centres; Southside Partnership’s Culinary Connections: Festival of Inclusion event which celebrated traditional cuisines and fostered intercultural community building, and the South East Cork Area Development company’s “Celebrate Multiculturalism through Food” events, which have been a staple of integration and inclusion in the area since 2018.

SICAP is well placed to support Local Authority projects and initiatives in this space, and I would strongly encourage Local Authority staff to link in with the relevant SICAP programme implementer in their area for potential collaborations on future projects.

A full list of SICAP Programme Implementers can be found at the following link: www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/SICAP-Programme-Implementer-Contact-List-2024-2.pdf.