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€38 million to support disadvantaged communities and individuals through SICAP this year
Michael Ring TD, the Minister for Rural and Community Development, has today participated in an open day in Fettercairn, Tallaght to highlight supports available to tackle social exclusion through his Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) programme.
At the event, which was hosted by the South Dublin County Partnership, Minister Ring highlighted the benefits of his Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which will provide €38 million in 2019 to support the most disadvantaged individuals and communities in our society. Over the five years of the programme, funding of at least €190 million will be provided.
SICAP supports unemployed people; those living in deprived areas; people with disabilities; single parent families; people on low income, members of the Traveller and Roma communities and other disadvantaged groups.
Speaking at today’s event, Minister Ring said:
“SICAP helps those who need it most from areas of inner city Dublin to the farthest reaches of rural Ireland. It’s great to witness the contribution that SICAP supported initiatives are making to the lives of individuals and to the wider community here in Fettercairn. It’s really important that people in communities are aware of the supports available to them and I commend South Dublin County Partnership for taking this initiative and reaching out to the community in this way.
“This Government is committed to tackling poverty and social exclusion in the most disadvantaged areas of this country, rural and urban. Working at a local level with community groups and individuals, SICAP funding supports life-long learning, strengthens communities and helps people to make real progress in their lives and to realise their potential.”
SICAP, which is managed at a community level by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), has a proven track record of helping disadvantaged people to make progress in their lives. Since 2015, the programme has supported 143,144 individuals and 7,649 community groups.
In 2018, SICAP exceeded its national targets, supporting 31,967 individuals and 2,558 community groups who were most in need of additional supports. SICAP is co-funded by the European Social Fund, through the Programme for Employability Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
Minister Ring concluded:
“Now we have seen improvements in the economy and employment, we need to make sure that the rising tide lifts all boats. Individuals and groups can visit their Local Development Company to receive the support they need.”
ENDS
The Government is committed to tackling social exclusion. SICAP is the primary programme for doing this at a local level across the country. SICAP’s goals relate to supporting both groups and also individuals on a one to one basis, in order to improve disadvantage levels in communities across the country.
SICAP supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups.
SICAP is delivered locally in 51 distinct areas, known as Lots, through a national network of Local Development Companies.