Written answer
Departmental Schemes
SICAP and New Arrivals funding remains subject to annual budget decisions, with no minimum notice commitment, though officials will notify implementers as early as possible.
4163. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he intends to introduce minimum notice periods for changes to SICAP or IPAS related funding streams to ensure adequate workforce planning and programme delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62849/26]
Comment on this
The 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.
It was vital that I secured an additional €1.5m for SICAP in Budget 2026, bringing the annual funding for SICAP to over €50m and continuing the positive funding trend in recent years, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government.
In regard to SICAP's work with New Arrivals, additional New Arrivals supports were introduced in 2022, in response to the arrival of Ukrainians to communities across Ireland and this was later extended to provide supports to International Protection Applicants. Since 2022, approximately €46m in additional funding has been allocated for delivery of supports to New Arrivals through SICAP.
While SICAP is a multi-annual programme, year to year funding allocations are subject to agreement as part of the annual budgetary estimate process. This is also the case with the additional New Arrivals funding, which is not a multi-annual commitment. This distinction is communicated to SICAP Programme Implementers with each of the allocations every year.
The additional funding allocated to SICAP in respect of New Arrivals is for delivery of SICAP services only to individuals and groups that fall under SICAP’s target groups, which already include refugees and international protection applicants, among others. Primary responsibility for the policy-related aspects of IPAS and associated funding streams rests with the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
I am keenly aware of the challenges the budgetary timelines can present to Programme Implementers in terms of workforce planning, and my officials are fully committed to notifying Programme Implementers of their core SICAP allocations and any additional funding streams as soon as is possible.