Local development company in operation since 1991, serving communities in southern County Kerry
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.
What is SICAP
SICAP 2018 – 2022 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local level through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. This social inclusion programme is the successor to SICAP 2015 – 2017 and assists by supporting both Communities and Individuals.
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP) is implementing SICAP in the South Kerry Area. We reflect the broad scope of the programme in their actions and uses programme funding to strengthen communities and improve people’s lives.
SKDP engages with marginalised communities and service providers using a community development approach to address issues relating to social exclusion and inequality. It enables bottom-up approaches within the framework of a national programme which provides targets, performance indicators and requirements.
Pobal (the Government agency who manage EU Grants for Local Development) acts as the agent of the Department of Rural and Community Development with respect to national management and oversight of the programme, which includes co-funding under the European Social Fund (ESF). Pobal managed the set-up and design of the social inclusion programme on behalf of the Department. Its functions include monitoring programme data and preparing progress reports for the Department and assists with issues relating to the management and delivery of SICAP.
Aim of SICAP
SICAP aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration. Addressing high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches, it targets and supports those who are disadvantaged in Irish society and less likely to use mainstream services.
SKDP with the support of the Kerry Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) targets those who are the most disadvantaged and excluded in our society. Together we work to empower communities to work collaboratively with relevant stakeholders. We use a broad range of supports and interventions, facilitated by SICAP programme funds.
Objectives of SICAP
Objectives of SICAP
The SICAP Programme has the following two goals:
Goal 1: Supporting Communities
To support communities and target groups to engage with relevant stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues, developing the capacity of Local Community Groups, and creating more sustainable communities.
Goal 2: Supporting Individuals
To support disadvantaged individuals to improve the quality of their lives through the provision of lifelong learning and labour market supports.
SKDP reflects the broad scope of the two SICAP goals in their approach and actions.
Horizontal themes are the core principles that cut across all areas of SKDP’s SICAP work. SICAP is underpinned by three horizontal themes:
Promoting an equality framework with a particular focus on gender equality and anti-discrimination practices;
Applying community development approaches to achieve the participation of disadvantaged and marginalised communities in the wider local development context;
Developing collaborative approaches with stakeholders to improve how mainstream policies and programmes are delivered so that they impact more positively on the socially excluded.
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG has incorporated the horizontal principles into their SICAP strategic and annual planning processes and in how they engage with individuals and LCGs and other stakeholders.
SICAP Funding
SICAP is funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development with co-funding from the European Social Fund (ESF) as part of the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020. Funding levels for South Kerry Development Partnership CLG’s SICAP work is set annually.
European Social Fund
The ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 is co-financing SICAP in the years 2018-2020. PEIL’s priority areas for investment revolve around the activation of the unemployed, social and labour market inclusion, education and youth employment.
SICAP Target Groups
SICAP supports a range of groups in society which are disadvantaged and marginalised and unable or unlikely to access mainstream supports. Pre-defined target groups have been set for SICAP and these have been selected based on the current socio-economic context, the level of need in society and government priorities.
All beneficiaries of programme supports must belong to one of the 13 SICAP target groups which are:
1. Disadvantaged Children and Families
8. People living in Disadvantaged Communities
2. Disadvantaged Young People (aged 15 – 24)
9. People with Disabilities
3. Disadvantaged Women
10. Roma
4. Emerging Needs Group
11. Travellers
5. Lone Parents
12. The Disengaged from the Labour Market (Economically Inactive)
6. Low Income Workers/Households
13. The Unemployed
7. New Communities
SICAP is aimed at those who need more help in society and who are on the margins of daily life. To ensure that SICAP is an effective social inclusion and community development programme, South Kerry Development Partnership CLG targets resources, supports and interventions to those who need them most.
SICAP Programme Timeframe
The duration of each SICAP contract is for a maximum of 60 months, from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2022. Continued funding is subject to a satisfactory annual performance review.
The Kerry LCDC reserves the right to extend SICAP for up to 12 months (with a maximum of one such extension) on the same terms and conditions, subject to their legal obligations and subject to approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development (DCRD).
South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd – SICAP Coverage in South Kerry
County Kerry is divided into three lots for the purposes of SICAP programme delivery in County Kerry. South Kerry will deliver the SICAP programme in Lot 19-3 South Kerry & Killarney as set out in the map below.
Further Information on SICAP in South Kerry
We have profiled some of our work through case studies, where you can get a deeper understanding of what we do.
For further information on the SICAP Programme in South Kerry, please contact Noel Spillane, Chief Executive Officer, South Kerry Development Partnership Ltd, West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co Kerry.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2022 is funded by the Irish Government through the Department of Rural and Community Development and co-funded by the European Social Fund under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020
SICAP Officers
Mairead O’Sullivan, Education and Training Coordinator
South Kerry Development Partnership CLG (SKDP) is implementing SICAP in the South Kerry Area. We reflect the broad scope of the programme in their actions and uses programme funding to strengthen communities and improve people’s lives.