Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2026
22. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding supports provided at a local level in community centres targeted at addressing social exclusion; if he will consider increasing funding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52702/26]
View answerThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention programme overseen by my Department. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need.
SICAP supports individuals and community groups who face disadvantage, providing targeted supports in areas such as employment, mental health, education, and community engagement and improving the quality of life of those facing social exclusion and inequality. The supports are provided by the staff of Local Development Companies in local communities across the country, often using community centres as their bases. SICAP funding is subject to the annual budgetary Estimates process. I secured an additional €1.5m in Budget 2026 and bringing the annual funding for SICAP to over €50m and I am committed to progressively increasing funding for SICAP, in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 434 community-based organisations, with a budget of €59.4 million in 2026, an increase of €4m from 2025, to provide 453 local social, economic, and environmental services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
Some 86 organisations delivering 89 services are currently supported through the CSP Programme, under the primary activity of Community Halls, Sports and Resource Centres. The Programme provides a funding contribution towards 57 manager positions and 331 FTE positions to this cohort. The total amount of funding allocated to these organisations over the Programme period (i.e. 2023-2027) is €36.772 million.
An Open Call for applications to join the CSP Programme closed for preliminary applications on 08 May, and all applications received are currently going through the various stages of the appraisal process. It is anticipated that organisations will be notified of the outcome of this Preliminary Application stage in the coming weeks. Subsequently, shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Feedback will be provided to those organisations that have not been shortlisted. I hope to be in a position to announce the outcome of the process before the end of the year.
