The report was launched by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, and Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development and Charities, Joe O’Brien at the Mansion House in the company of the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Caroline Conroy.
Launching the report, Minister McGrath, said:
“I am delighted to launch the SICAP Annual Report here in the Mansion House today. This report clearly shows the importance of the Programme in addressing inequality and improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged groups and individuals in the country. I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Minister O’Brien and his department on winning the prestigious 2022 UN Public Service Award for the social inclusion programme. This international award is a wonderful acknowledgement of the immense work of the programme, particularly over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot underestimate the importance of this programme and its impact in communities around the country.”
He added “SICAP can make a difference, and nothing is inevitable for the next generation.”
Minister O’Brien said:
“I am very pleased to have Minister McGrath join me today to help raise awareness of the important work of SICAP. This programme is the Sta
te’s primary social inclusion tool and in addition to working daily to target poverty and disadvantage, the programme workers were also hugely responsive to both the COVID-19 crisis and more recently the Ukrainian crisis. Minister McGrath’s presence here today is testament to this programme’s importance in overall government policy and I am delighted that last year’s Budget provided significant additional funding to SICAP in recognition of that important role it plays in communities across Ireland.”
The SICAP 2021 Annual Report highlights the vital importance of the Programme in addressing inequality and improving outcomes for the most disadvantaged groups and individuals in the country.
In 2021, 2,646 Local Community Groups and 26,483 individuals were supported by the programme.
The report also acknowledges the role of t
he Local Development Companies (LDCs) and Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) who deliver the Programme at County and local area level.
The Programme was recently awarded the prestigious UN Award for Public Service during COVID-19.
A ‘Learning Brief’ which examines the different experiences of men and women who have been supported by the programme was also launched today.
The government’s Social Inclusion Progress Report was researched, written and produced by Pobal who administer the Programme on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Pobal’s CEO, Ms Anna Shakespeare, said:
“Pobal is very pleased to work with and on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD), the Local Community Development 
Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies (LDCs) and other stakeholders towards a common aim of reducing disadvantage, poverty and promoting greater social inclusion and equality”
“I very much welcome the launch of a ‘Learning Brief’ produced by Pobal which is the first detailed gender analysis of the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
“It analyses and compares the different experiences of men and women, who have engaged with the Programme. It is important to understand these differences, what drives them and to examine what can be done to address the existing barriers”
Read and download the SICAP Annual Report 2021 here
Read and download ‘A Comparison of Women and Men Supported by SICAP – A Pobal Learning Brief’ here
