A new package of funding has been announced to support social inclusion and community development across Ireland.

Minister for Community Development and Charities, Joe O'Brien, T.D has allocated €44 million for the Social Inclusion and Community Activity Programme (SICAP) in 2023 as part of the Budget.

SICAP supports communities and individuals to engage with relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality, developing the capacity of Local Community Groups and creating more sustainable communities. The programme supports disadvantaged individuals to improve the quality of their lives through the provision of lifelong learning and labour market supports issues.

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Announcing the funding, the Minister said: "I am pleased to announce this additional funding for SICAP underpinning this Government's on-going commitment to social inclusion and community development. This programme has an explicit anti-poverty focus, promoting social inclusion and equality and is making a real difference in communities across the country.

"The programme is flexible and reactive and this has been evident in the support over the pandemic and most recently supporting people arriving from Ukraine. The SICAP programme reaches out to those most in need in disadvantaged areas, rural and urban, supporting individuals and communities to access mainstream services. This funding is being provided to enable the Local Development Companies (LDC's) to continue the great work they are doing, retain staff and direct additional resources to the delivery of SICAP."

Individuals and Community groups can reach out to their Local Development Company for support.