Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 May 2024
309. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will intervene to ensure that the Robert Emmet Community Development Project can continue to deliver essential services in the south west inner city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23398/24]
View answerRobert Emmet Community Development Project receives funding for the delivery of the Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) in Dublin on behalf of my Department. They are part of a broader consortium of 13 Dublin inner city community development organisations that deliver SICAP throughout the city and Robert Emmet CDP deliver these services in the South West Inner City.
This consortium of community development organisations have come together to ensure the development and delivery of social, economic and cultural services continues within their communities. Collectively they are known as the Dublin City Community Co-Op.
SICAP is Ireland’s primary social inclusion intervention with an allocation of €47.4 million this year. The overall funding for SICAP is subject to the annual budgetary process, with funding allocations then made based on levels of relative affluence and deprivation across the programme’s 53 Contract Areas, ensuring SICAP is targeting disadvantage fairly and helping those in greatest need to receive supports.
The total funding for SICAP is allocated in full at the start of each year and as such, no additional SICAP funding is available at this time. I would, however, recommend that Robert Emmet CDP contact their Local Authority on other potential funding avenues, and to ensure they are aware of any new funding opportunities as they become available.
