Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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19. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether consideration has been given to introducing dedicated community support officers at local level to assist community groups with accessing funding streams, including grant applications and associated administrative requirements, particularly in areas where groups may have limited capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22930/26]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.

A number of programmes provide funding for staff resources to engage with and support communities, including building capacity to access government funding schemes.

SICAP is the State’s primary social inclusion programme. It provides supports to disadvantaged communities and individuals to improve their life chances.

SICAP (Goal 1) supports collective community engagement, providing direct supports to Local Community Groups (LCGs) and Networks. This includes developing their capacity to better engage with other groups, improve outcomes in their communities, and address social exclusion issues. In 2025, SICAP supported over 2,500 LCGs and Networks.

Additionally, the Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) enhances access to key services and supports communities to respond to area-based poverty and social exclusion. Community workers act as a local resource, including supporting groups with activities such as funding applications and administrative requirements.

Separately, the department’s LEADER programme is a community-led approach to local development that is delivered in rural areas across the country by a network of Local Action Groups, or LAGs. The funding provided by my department supports eligible projects relating to community groups and rural businesses, and also contributes to LAG administration costs to support work such as engaging with prospective applicants regarding their application.

I can assure the Deputy that work remains ongoing in my Department to look at the best ways to ensure that disadvantaged communities are provided with the support they need to underpin their sustainable development.