421. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if she will effect a policy change to permit local partnerships to provide course funding assistance in a situation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8465/16]

Local Partnerships, now known as local development companies, are involved in the implementation and delivery of a wide range of Programmes and Schemes on behalf of a number of Government Departments. My Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2015-2017 is one of those Programmes. The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty, promote social inclusion and equality through local, regional and national engagement and collaboration.

The programme’s target groups are children and families from disadvantaged areas, lone parents, new communities (including refugees and asylum seekers), people living in disadvantaged communities, people with disabilities, Roma, the unemployed (including those not on the Live Register), Low Income Workers/Households, Travellers, young unemployed people from disadvantaged areas and young people (aged 15-24) who are not in employment, education or training (NEETs).

SICAP is one of my Department’s key priorities and is being supported in 20 16 with funding of €37.3 million. This includes an allocation of €3 million under the European Structural Funds (ESF) Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

SICAP is delivered locally by the Programme Implementers (details set out in the following Table), who operate a range of community schemes and programmes, which are governed by their respective eligibility criteria and rules.

In relation to the matter referred to in the Question, the Deputy should liaise directly with the relevant local development company to establish what supports or options are available in this case.