Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 December 2025
31. 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. [66817/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. I am delighted to have secured an additional €1.5m in Budget 2026 which brings the annual funding for SICAP to in excess of €50m in 2026.
My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 426 community-based organisations, with a budget of €55.4 million in 2025, to provide 446 local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each FTE position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. My Department has secured a further increase of €4m in 2026, bringing the total programme allocation to €59.4m for 2026.
Seventy-eight of the organisations currently supported under CSP, under the primary activity of Community Hall, Sports and Resource Centres, are associated with community centres. They provide CSP-supported employment to a total of 376 staff, 54 managers and 322 full-time equivalents (FTEs). The total amount of funding allocated to these organisations is €34.6 million over the five-year timeframe of this programme (2023-2027).
Following on from a commitment made in the Programme for Government and the Budget 2026 announcement, my Department is currently examining the scope to hold an open call to the CSP Programme, having regard to the funding needs of existing CSP-supported organisations, organisations waitlisted from the previous call and those who wish to join the Programme.
