15/09/2025
Minister of State Jerry Buttimer today explained why he "loves" (see video) the government’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) when speaking at the launch of the programme’s 2024 annual report, REPORTS Allen Meagher Journalist.
The report and related research was formally launched by Tanaiste Simon Harris TD and Minister Buttimer at an event held in Bray, Co. Wicklow, today.
Speaking in The Little Flower Hall just off Main Street, the Tánaiste said: “As the Government’s primary social inclusion programme, SICAP provides vital services to reduce poverty and tackle the exclusion and marginalisation experienced by groups and individuals across the country.
“Where people and groups are not engaged with mainstream supports, SICAP provides a pathway to those marginalised people and groups to participate in their local community and its development.
“The statistics in the Annual Report published today speak for themselves as to the vital support this programme provides to many communities across the country,” he said.
Minister Buttimer added:
“SICAP does vital work in helping individuals and groups, by improving the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed. The programme has exceeded its Key Performance Indicators for the Year, and I have no doubt will continue to build on this positive momentum.”
The key findings in the annual report include:
2,368 Local Community Groups were supported in 2024.
1995 individuals, 6% of the overall caseload, progressed into employment in 2024.
260 Community activists or community groups were supported in 2024.
473 Social Enterprises were supported by SICAP in 2024.
32,490 individuals were supported in 2024.
53,133 Children & parents were supported in 2024.
96,520 non-caseload individuals attended events sponsored by SICAP.
The ‘New Arrivals Research Series’ consists of three reports that explore the role that SICAP has played since 2022 in addressing barriers to inclusion experienced by Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, International Protection Applicants/asylum seekers and refugees.
The three reports are:
• New Arrivals: SICAP Implementers’ Perspectives – this research was prepared by Eithne Tiernan and studied the challenges the Local Development Companies (LDCs) experienced in supporting New Arrivals and good practice approaches.
• New Arrivals: SICAP Beneficiaries’ Experiences – this research was prepared by a consortium made up of Interactions Ltd and The Outcome. The researchers surveyed and spoke with people who received SICAP support and highlights common challenges, good practices and barriers to inclusion.
• New Arrivals: SICAP 2022-2023 Profile – this research was prepared by Pobal and is primarily based on monitoring data recorded by LDCs on their work with New Arrivals. It provides details and data around supports provided to New Arrivals and highlights progress and outcomes for individuals.
Administered by Pobal, SICAP 2024-2028 is co-funded by the Irish Government, through the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, and the European Social Fund Plus under the Employment, Inclusion, Skills, and Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027.
The reports are available for download here: https://www.pobal.ie/programmes/social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap-2024-2028/resources/
Photos & video by AM.
This post was updated at 7.53pm, Sept 15, to correctly input statistical data.
