Preasráitis
Minister Joe O’Brien visits community initiatives in County Wicklow
Ó An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail
Foilsithe
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Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Ó An Roinn Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail
Foilsithe
An t-eolas is déanaí
Teanga: Níl leagan Gaeilge den mhír seo ar fáil.
Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Social Protection, Joe O’Brien, today (Tuesday 25 April) visited a number of community initiatives in County Wicklow.
The visit commenced in County Wicklow Partnership Company where Minister O’Brien engaged with the staff delivering programmes in communities across the county, funded by his departments.
Minister O’Brien said:
“The work that TÚS and RSS workers carry out is absolutely vital to local communities here in County Wicklow and right across the country. It is also evident here today, that the funding provided from my department for the government’s social inclusion programme, SICAP is making a real difference in communities."
Minister O’Brien went on to visit the Ukrainian Hub where he was informed of Arklow’s community-led responses to assisting and supporting people from Ukraine.
As part of the visit, the Minister spent his afternoon in the Centre for Education and Resourcing Travellers (CEART) where he met with a number of local representatives, staff and volunteers from the Wicklow Volunteer Centre and from Wicklow’s Public Participation Network.
Minister O’Brien finished his visit in the company of members of Wicklow Welcomes and commended them for helping the residents of the IPAS Centre in Wicklow town to feel welcomed by the community.
Speaking about his visit to Wicklow, Minister O’Brien said:
“This has been a wonderful opportunity to hear about some of the many projects across the county that are supported by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Social Protection, as well as broader Government.”
Minister O’Brien concluded:
“It has also been an opportunity for me to engage with local representatives, community groups, staff and volunteers to hear first-hand about the challenges and issues that are arising. This immense work that is ongoing across the county cannot be underestimated and we will continue to engage to ensure projects are supported to continue their vital work.”
Tús is a community work placement initiative aimed at providing short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year.
The scheme aims to improve the employability and work readiness of participants, by providing them with the opportunities to put work skills into practice and learn new skills enabling progression to work, further education or skill development.
The Rural Social Scheme (RSS) is an income support initiative that provides part-time employment opportunities in community and voluntary organisations for farmers or fishermen who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments and who are underemployed in their primary occupation.
People participating in the scheme provide services that benefit rural communities.
Both Tús and RSS schemes are funded by the Department of Social Protection and are delivered through the national network of Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas.
Last year the Employment Support Services Operation Forum was introduced where we, along with department officials, meet representatives from all schemes.
This now meets three to four times a year. The meetings afford scheme representatives an opportunity to raise current issues relating to their schemes. It is extremely informative and very worthwhile opportunity for constructive exchanges of views and ideas with schemes.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention.
It is a national programme delivered with funding in excess of €220 million over a six-year period from 2018 to 2023. The SICAP budget for 2023 is €44.3 million.
SICAP is managed locally by 33 Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) with support from Local Authorities. SICAP is delivered on the ground by 46 Local Development Companies (LDC’s) across 51 areas (Lots).
The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.
A Public Participation Network (PPN) is a network for Community and Voluntary, Social Inclusion and Environmental groups in each local authority area.
PPNs provide the voice of the community for local authority boards and committees. Where a local authority requires a representative from the community to sit on their boards or committees such as Strategic Policy Committees or Local Development (LCDCs), they must source this representative from the PPN. The PPN is therefore the “go to” for all local authorities who wish to benefit from community and voluntary expertise in their area.
Membership of a PPN is open to all volunteer-led/not-for-profit groups in a local authority area. Over 18,000 groups nationwide are currently members of a PPN.