Disadvantaged groups in Galway have been awarded funding totaling €2.32 million under the 2020 Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme.
The Social Inclusion programme supports unemployed people, those living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on low incomes, members of the Traveller and Roma communities and other disadvantaged groups.
The Department of Rural and Community Development announced a total of €39.2 million for the 2020 SICAP, which includes €1.65 million for Galway county and €670,000 for the city.
Galway East TD Seán Canney welcomed the funding for Galway county, saying that this programme “makes a real difference to communities, especially those that are marginalised and suffering disadvantage.”
The funding level for Galway county has been increased by €50,000 on 2019, and Galway city’s funding level is up €40,000 on the last round.
SICAP is co-funded by the European Social Fund and the Department, and is delivered at the county and city level by Local Community Development Committees.
Almost 32,000 people were assisted by the programme in 2018 according to Minister for Rural and Community Development Michael Ring.
“This programme works to tackle poverty, social exclusion and long-term unemployment through supporting local engagement and partnership between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations, public sector agencies and other stakeholders.”
The Minister added that it will continue to “reach out to help those who need it most in disadvantaged areas, urban and rural, by encouraging and supporting people towards accessing mainstream services.”
Since 2018 support from SICAP has helped 4,000 people set up their own business, and helped another 2,168 find a job.
It has also provided funding for a total of 3,066 community groups and a further 334 social enterprises.
“I know from experience that programmes such as SICAP make a real difference to communities on the ground, especially those groups and individuals in our communities that are marginalised and suffering disadvantage,” Minister Ring concluded.
