Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 February 2025
144. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason the wage subsidy scheme is restricted to employees that have been employed for less than 12 months; the supports available for longer-term workers who have recently become disabled in such a way that their productivity may be reduced, but wish to remain in their employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6739/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme, which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals. 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.
The current iteration of SICAP began on 1 January 2024 and will run until the end of 2028. My Department committed over €47.4m in core funding in 2024 for SICAP & has committed over €48.9m for 2025.
The funding for SICAP is subject to the annual budgetary Estimates process. I acknowledge that funding for social inclusion measures were reduced after 2008. However, since then, a wide variety of additional social inclusion measures have been initiated and funded, with some examples being the Empowering Communities Programme, the Community Development Programme and most recently the Community Connection Project announced last year.
The work of SICAP is of huge importance to communities across Ireland in tackling the issues they face, linking in directly with the agreed objectives of the Local Economic and Community Plans. SICAP funding has increased year on year since 2022, a total increase of €9.8 million in the programme increasing the annual funding to over €48.9m in 2025. Separate to this increase in funding, I also secured additional funding of €36m from 2022 - 2025 through SICAP to support Ukrainian Nationals displaced by war and International Protection Applicants.
In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, I can assure the Deputy that I will review the level of funding for all programmes each year as part of the budgetary process and I intend to continue to prioritise additional funding for SICAP.
